Draft Regulation 18 Sandwell Local Plan
Allotments
6.65 The Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 placed a duty on local authorities to provide sufficient allotments according to local demand. It also made provision for local authorities to compulsorily purchase land to provide allotments.
6.66 The National Model Design Code states that as part of open space design for large developments consideration should be given to the provision of land for allotments and community growing projects for food production, learning and community engagement.
6.67 Sandwell currently contains 34 allotment sites that in turn provide 1,336 plots; it encourages the continued use of allotments and will support the use of green space for local food growing, including community farming, gardening and orchards.
Policy SHW6 - Allotments
- The provision and promotion of allotments and community gardens in Sandwell will be supported by the Council. This will be achieved by:
- retaining existing allotments and resisting their loss unless in accordance with allocations identified in this plan;
- working with partners and local communities to identify sites with potential for local food growing; and
- supporting projects that promote community gardening, farming and orchards.
- If allotments are to be redeveloped, compensatory measures will be required for the loss, either through provision of new allotments on an open space of equivalent value nearby, or through a commensurate contribution to the enhancement of existing allotment provision in the vicinity.
- Proposals for community agriculture will be supported where appropriate.
- Development proposals that are located next to, or which may have an impact on, existing allotments will be expected to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts on them by employing the agent of change principle.
Justification
6.68 Allotments and community agriculture are important to local communities, and they have a unique place in Britain's heritage.
6.69 Allotments have nature conservation and open space value alongside their primary use for food growing. Allotment sites will be strongly protected unless it can be clearly demonstrated that their use is no longer required.
6.70 A study carried out in 2016[123] identified that allotment gardening can result in significant improvements in self-esteem and mood via reductions in tension, depression, anger and confusion. These findings are supported by previous research demonstrating the health and well-being benefits of participating in green exercise activities.
6.71 Further evidence[124] on the social, physical and mental benefits of allotment gardening demonstrates that:
- it provides various environmental benefits, including the support and regulation of ecosystem services;
- it results in more sustainably produced food, promotes healthy eating and acts as an educational resource;
- it improves general health, aids recovery from stress, increases life satisfaction, promotes social contact and provides opportunities for low to moderate–high intensity physical activity, all of which promote mental wellbeing;
- people who grow their own food are happier than those who do not;
- compared with an indoor exercise class, allotment gardening results in significantly lower levels of stress.
6.72 Allotment gardening might also play a key role in promoting health and wellbeing in the more vulnerable groups in society through the development of social support and cohesion.