Over 100 new allotment plots planned for Bristol to boost food growing and gardening

The money to create new allotments has come from new housing developments

More than 100 new allotment plots are planned for Bristol to boost opportunities for gardening and growing food. Bristol City Council is planning to invest £2.4 million in creating the new plots at three sites across the city, with money coming from a charge on property developers.

In Lockleaze, between 35 and 60 new allotments will be created at Dovercourt Road and Cotman Walk, with £168,700 funding from the Bonnington Walk development. In Hengrove Park, just over £1 million will be spent on creating between 55 to 105 new plots

Over £1.14 million from the Brislington Meadows development will also be spent on new allotments, although it’s not yet clear where these will be located. Councillors on the public health and communities policy committee approved the investment on Friday, August 23.

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Liberal Democrat Councillor Stephen Williams said: “The investment responds to the growing demand from Bristol residents for space in which to grow their own food and help contribute to a healthier and more equitable food system. We know there’s plenty of demand out there for allotment spaces and there are over 7,000 people waiting for an allotment at the moment.”

There are only around 4,200 existing allotment plots in Bristol, and the council is also planning to increase the rents for plot holders. During the same committee meeting, councillors decided to defer a plan to hike the rents, after allotmenteers spoke out against the planned increase.

Labour Cllr Lisa Durston added: “This proposal should be welcomed, it’s been in the pipeline for some time and I’m really pleased to see it coming through. It will help address our waiting list, it will bring more collective food-growing opportunities, and it’s also in line with our food equality strategy.”

The money to create new allotments cannot be used on day-to-day maintenance, or preventing a rent hike. This is because the law says the council must hold separate budgets for revenue, covering things like rents and the normal costs of running the service; and capital spending, which means one-off spending for creating new plots and other infrastructure.