ALLOTMENT SURVEY
Redevelopment of Beacon Lane Allotments for Housing
vi.
3.23
Inner Street
This site is located in the centre of the town by the side of the river and is a very popular
allotment site. The general impression of the site is one that is popular and very well
maintained. At the time of the survey a large number of allotments were being actively
worked. This compared with many others surveyed on the same day, which had little or no
activity observed.
3.24
Security is good with either commercial buildings or secure fencing surrounding the whole
site.
3.25
The original Council survey indicated that this site had a total of 70 plots and that each one
was occupied. The visual assessment of the survey suggests that the situation has not
changed. The allotment association declined to participate in the survey.
3.26
There are a total of 70 plots on the site and the total area is 1.571ha (3.882 acres).
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Inner Street
Plan 1 This site plan shows the location of the site and its proximity next to the river and the footpath
that runs alongside it. Access to the site is via Inner Street between commercial properties. Although
the site is next to a well used footpath/cycleway, the site appears to very secure (see photos).
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Photo 1 This shows the footpath alongside the eastern boundary of the site next to the river. Despite
being so close to a footpath/cycleway the site is made secure with the high fence.
Photo 2 Again taken from the footpath alongside the river. The site is well maintained and there
appears to be no vacant plots.
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Photo 3 This aerial shot shows the site’s central location next to the town centre and bounded by
commercial properties to the west and the river to the east. This photo clearly shows how well used
the site is and contrasts with many other sites in Grantham.
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vii.
3.27
Stamford Street
These allotments are located to the south of the town centre to the west of the railway line.
The Council survey identified that this site was well used with only 2 or 3 of the 30 plots being
vacant with a similar amount on the waiting list. The visual survey confirms that the situation
has not changed significantly changed over the last few years. Buckminster Estate owns the
site.
3.28
The site is sandwich between the railway line and an established residential area to the west.
To the south is an open field. The area of the site is 1.691ha (4.180 acres).
3.29
Although this site is well used an, area to the south of Stamford Street was identified on OS
plans as an allotment area, but this is no longer the case (see section on Walton Gardens).
The site is also close to the Huntingtower Road allotments, which has large areas no longer
used as allotments and which have been handed back to Buckminster Estates. This
suggests that in line with national trends, the demand for allotments has reduced over the
years in this area.
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Stamford Street
Plan 1 The site plan shows the location of the allotments close to the railway line and the terraced
properties on Stamford and Victoria Streets.
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Photo 1 shows the entrance to the site, which is from a small track/footpath running between the
A607 and Stamford Street.
Photo 2 is taken from the footpath looking south east across the allotment site.
allotments are well used and are well maintained.
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Photo 3 shows the close relationship with the terraced properties on Stamford Street and Victoria
Street. It also shows the adjoining agricultural unit to the south of the site
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viii.
Bridge End
3.30
This is a very popular allotment site to the south east of the town centre. The individual plot
holders own shares in the site in a similar way to what happens at Barracks Gardens. The
number of plots allocated to individuals is dependant on the number of shares they have. A
number of shareholders have tenants or are tenants of additional plots.
3.31
Interestingly, the survey form showed that demand for allotments has increased over the last
ten years when several plots were vacant. Today the situation is that two plots out of a total
of 59 are vacant and these are unlikely to be let as they are in shade and are therefore not
attractive for growing vegetables. There are other plots which are not cultivated where the
shareholder just neglects them and does not wish to let them. There is also one plot were the
tenant does not cultivate but continues to pay rent. Some of the buildings on site are used for
storage purposes.
3.32
The demand is not restricted to those living close by, but extends outside of Grantham itself
with a 12 tenants/plot holders living in the surrounding villages. This is explained by the
association on the basis that there is little or no land for allotments in the villages anymore.
The association also confirms that there remains a strong demand form outside of Grantham.
3.33
There are few problems with the site with only one or two instances a year of theft or
vandalism being reported. Facilities are considered adequate, but improvements could be
made such as the provision of toilets or an amenity building. However, these are ruled out on
costs.
3.34
The total area of the site is 2.021ha (4.994 acres).
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Bridge End
Plan 1 shows the location of the site in an area of largely detached houses with some smaller
terraced properties on Somerby Hill. It is understood that the garage to the north west of the site was
originally part of the allotment site but was sold off.
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Photo 1. The main entrance to the site is from Somerby Hill.
Photo 2. The site is well maintained with few vacant plots.
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Photo 3 shows that generally the site is well maintained with only a few plots not cultivated or cared
for.
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ix.
3.35
Barracks Gardens/Beacon Lane Allotments
This is the site the subject of the planning application and is currently underused with most
plot owners no longer actively cultivating the site. I
3.36
At the time of the Council survey only five plots were occupied with 10 used for livestock and
the rest of them (29), were considered as derelict. The situation today is no better.
3.37
The site is owned by the individual plot holders via a small limited company, ‘Barracks
Gardens Limited’. Some of the owners have moved away from Grantham whilst others simply
have no interest in cultivating the allotments.
3.38
The site appears to be used primarily for keeping poultry with various types of poultry being
kept on site including emus as well as the more usual forms of poultry such as chickens and
geese. However, only a few plots are used for cultivation.
3.39
A number of the plots are used for the storage and the photographs illustrate the scale and
type of items stored on the site. Examples being old fridges, builders waste, old window
frames, old gas bottles, old timber, car batteries etc. This use seems to have existed for
many years and may now be lawful.
3.40
Whilst some areas of the site are well maintained, the overall impression of the site is one of
neglect with little cultivation taking place and with a significant proportion of non allotment use
taking place within the site. All of which contributes to the environmental degradation of the
site.
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Plan 1 shows the site is enclosed by housing to the south and to the east with a school playing field to
the west and special needs school to the north.
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Photo 1 This illustrates that many of the plots are neglected and are used primarily for poultry. Many
of the buildings are semi derelict and some have fallen down.
Photo 2 This view is looking back towards the entrance to the site and the large Victorian villa that
standing beside it.
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Photo 3 Whilst most plots are not used others are used for purposes other than as allotments. This
photograph clearly shows the storage of various materials on the site including old fridges
Photo 4 Again this shows that the allotment plots are used for the storage of all sorts of items and
clearly illustrates the proximity of sensitive uses such as the special needs school.
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Photo 5 This aerial view clearly shows that few of the plots are used for cultivation. The main use
appears to be the grazing of livestock namely various forms of poultry. Also shown is the close
relationship with the nearby special needs school, immediately north of the site.
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x.
3.41
Harrowby Road
This allotment site is one of the closest to the application site being around a quarter of a mile
away to the south. It is not known whether the site is owned by individual plot holders or by a
single landlord. This site was not included in the Council's original survey in 2004 and no
contact details are known.
3.42
During the visual assessment/survey of the site, no one was seen on the site and despite
visiting the site several times there has never been anyone seen on the site. Nevertheless, a
survey form and covering letter was left at the site, but has not been returned.
3.43
Although not included with the Council’s survey, the site is one of the largest allotment sites in
Grantham with an area of approximately 4.361ha (10.777 acres). The exact size is difficult to
determine because where the properties on Harrowby Road back onto the site; some appear
to have extended their residential curtilage into the allotment site (see photo). Again because
this appears to have taken place some time ago, there is the possibility that this apparent
change of use is now lawful.
3.44
Similarly, the use of a number of the various buildings throughout the site, for the storage of
building materials etc may also now be lawful.
3.45
Only a few plots seem to be in use as allotments and they appear to be used for poultry
keeping rather than for actual cultivation. Many sites are overgrown and neglected with many
buildings falling down. And other uses have been introduced over the years, all of which
contribute to the poor environmental quality of the site.
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Harrowby Road
Plan 1 This shows the assumed extant of the site. It is not clear from the site visit of interpretation of
the OS plans and the aerial photographs where the exact boundary of the site is. The school to the
south east of the site is bounded on two sides by the allotments. To the north is the cemetery
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Photo 1 shows just how neglected the site is and the problems with fly tipping etc.
Photo 2 Shows the track that runs along the back of the properties on Harrowby Road. In this
location the boundary is well defined but elsewhere it is not.
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Photo 3 A typical example of what the buildings contain on site.
Photo 4 shows what appears to be the burnt out remains of some of the buildings.
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Photo 5 It is clear from this aerial view the difficulties in determining the boundary of the site. Note in
particular the boundary of the site with the rear of the properties that front onto Harrowby Road.
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xi.
3.46
Walton Gardens
This site is no longer used as allotments and it is clear from the photographs that it has not
been used as such for many years. It is included within the survey to illustrate further the
falling demand for allotments and that this is fall in demand is not just a recent phenomena.
Where a number of other sites have been reduced in size, such as at Huntingtower Road, this
site has been totally abandoned as an allotment site.
3.47
The aerial photograph suggests that this took place many years ago as there is little or no
evidence can be seen for allotment use. The only evidence being the annotation on the OS
plans.
3.48
Detail desk top study also revealed other areas, which were annotated as ‘Allotment Gardens’
on OS plans, but these were relatively minor in scale and have not been included in this
assessment for this reason.
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Walton Gardens
Plan 1 clearly identifies the areas south of Walton Gardens as ‘Allotment Gardens’. Although the site
visit revealed no evidence of allotment use in the area anymore.
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Photo 1 provides little or no evidence of the sites use as allotments. There are no signs of any
buildings or signs of allotment cultivation as can be seen in the aerial photograph of Barrowby Road.
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4.0
EVALUATION
4.1
Section 3 detailed each allotment site by site and provided information in respect of the
quality of the site in terms of their visual appearance and also the use of the allotments.
Table 1 summarises the data obtained and gives a score out of five in terms of the quality of
the allotment site. This score is primarily based upon the visual assessment of the allotments
due to the lack of response to the survey questionnaire. Nevertheless, those that did respond
did seem to have the same impression of the site that was gained by the visual assessment,
which suggests that the visual assessment, although not ideal, does give an indication of the
quality of the site, the problems and also the number of vacancies/use of the site.
Table 1
Allotment
Number
Location/name
Quality
of
allotments
Overall
size
(including areas
that have been
abandoned) in ha
Current
active area
of site
i.
Barrowby Road
4
3.223 (7.964 acres)
1.537 (3.79)
ii.
Harlaxton Road
5
0.761 (1.88 acres)
0.761
iii.
Gonerby Hill Foot
2
3.537 (8.740 acres)
3.537
iv.
Harrowby Lane
5
1.502 (3.71 acres)
1.502 (3.71)
v.
Huntingtower Road
3
4.717 (11.65 acres)
2.63 (6.5)
vi.
Inner Street
5
1.571 (3.882 acres)
1.571
vii.
Stamford Road
5
1.691 (4.178 acres)
1.691
viii.
Bridge End
5
2.021 (4.993 acres)
2.021
ix.
Barracks Gardens
1
2.251 (5.562 acres)
2.251
x.
Harrowby Road
1
4.361 (10.77 acres)
4.361
xi.
Walton Gardens
0
Unknown
0
25.635 ha
21.863
Total
1
1
Note that all tenants have been served notice to quit and have until March 2008 to vacate the site
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4.2
From Table 1 it can be seen that the total amount of land used as allotments in the Grantham
area has reduced by around 4ha but this excludes areas such as Walton Gardens, which
have been unused as allotments for many years. The loss is therefore likely to be greater. In
addition, a number of the larger sites, such as Harrowby Road and Huntingtower Road are
considered to be sites which have the least demand for them because of the number of
vacant and derelict plots on them or because of the significant proportion of non allotment
uses that exist on the site.
4.3
Notwithstanding this reduction in the available land for allotments, the use of the remaining
land is poor on a number of sites. Whilst some sites such as Inner Street and Harrowby Lane
are well run and have waiting lists clearly indicating a demand for those allotments, others
such as Harrowby Road are not well used as allotments and other uses have been introduced
to the detriment of the environment. Sites such as Huntingtower Road fall somewhere in
between having a significant number of plots being actively cultivated but still having around
40% unused, which does impact on the character of the allotments. Bearing in mind that over
half of the land that was used as allotments has already been handed back to the landlord
this must indicate that there has been, and that there continues, problems with generating
demand for these allotments.
4.4
As mentioned above, many of the allotments are no longer used primarily for cultivation.
Examples being Barracks Gardens and others such as Harrowby Road, the nearest site to
Barracks Gardens. At Barracks Gardens the situation is that whilst there is a limited company
namely ‘Barracks Gardens Limited’, which manages the site and which is run by the plot
owners, there remain only a few plot owners who are actually cultivating their plots. And
despite a management system being in place, the allotments are in decline because of a ‘lack
of interest’ as it was described in the Council’s survey in 2004.
4.5
The situation at Harrowby Road is unknown as no contact details were available, but the lack
of notice boards and lack of activity may suggest that there is no formal management of the
site taking place. Notwithstanding whether there is or is not a system of allotment
management, the use of the of the site for cultivation is clearly very poor and whilst the
majority of plots seem almost to be abandoned there are significant amounts of non allotment
uses on the site which detracts from the amenity of the area along with the apparent
dereliction.
4.6
The demand for allotments has declined in Grantham as it has done elsewhere. Similarly,
there is recent evidence to suggest that allotments are becoming more popular again as they
are in the rest of the country. However, a significant amount of land that was used for
allotments is no longer used for that purpose and some has even been handed back to the
original landowners, presumably because of this lack of demand. Other such as Barracks
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Gardens and Harrowby Road, have just been neglected by their owners. Nevertheless, some
of the allotments show steady demand and some such as Bridge End (which is also owner by
the plot holders themselves) indicate that demand has increased over the last ten years
following a period of decline.
4.7
Poor amenities, lack of management and a issues such as security can influence demand
and for some allotments it may be that with improvements to amenities take up of vacant plots
could be increased and the sites better used. However, funding for such improvements may
be difficult to find and possibly prohibitive to those allotment holders who own their site such
as at Bridge End.
4.8
Little detail of where there is demand has been identified apart from the response from Bridge
End, which indicated that there was a strong demand from outside of Grantham for
allotments, from the surrounding villages. This combined with the apparent surplus of
available allotments as indicated by the high vacancy rates on some allotments suggests that
Grantham has a surplus of allotments above that generated locally and that as well as being
evidenced by underused sites is also evidenced by plots being taken by those from elsewhere
who have no provision locally.
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5.0
CONCLUSIONS
5.1
Grantham has a large number and variety of allotment sites throughout the town. Over the
years the number of plots actually cultivated has declined but recent years show an
improvement in demand (at some sites).
5.2
The supply of sites exceeds locally generated demand and also that from surrounding
villages. This is evidenced by the large number of plots that remain empty or that are used for
non allotment use and also by the areas of land handed back to landowners from allotment
associations because of the lack of demand and, because there appears to be a lack of sites
in nearby villages, plots are being taken by those from outside of Grantham.
5.3
The current sites available in Grantham can serve the current local demand and any likely
increase in demand arising from new housing development or from those displaced from
elsewhere such as Gonerby Hill Foot, with the Council identifying up to 44 plots at
Huntingtower Road alone being available in 2004 and more from other sites such as
Harrowby Road. However, in order to be attractive to those wanting an allotment these sites
will need to be improved. Funding would need to be made available to carry out such
improvements.
5.4
In conclusion, Policy REC7 states:
"Planning permission will not normally be granted for development involving the loss
of allotment land unless it can be demonstrated that there is no further need for such
facilities in the locality of the proposal…”
It is considered that this report does demonstrate that there is no further need for such
facilities in the area and that as whole Grantham has a supply of allotments, which exceeds
locally generated demand.
5.5
It is also concluded that many of the existing allotment sites could be improved even those
that have waiting lists. However, priority should be given those sites such as Huntingtower
Lane which has a 60 plots actively cultivated but still has a high level of vacant or fallow plots
which tend to detract from the overall impression of the site and is therefore likely to reduce
demand.
5.6
Any current plot holders who wish to continue cultivating a plot can find alternative sites
elsewhere within Grantham.
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Appendix 1
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Appendix 2
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