Just got an allotment (Merged)

planning_officer

Sporticus wrote: »

Hi

my dh and I are interested in getting an allotment. We're on the waiting list for a council one (2 year wait ) but this weekend we spotted a sign saying allotments for rent. I spoke to the man who owns them and he said that they should be ready in a week to 10 days. :j . He's putting in a car park and other bits. These appear to be private rentals. Is there such a thing and what do we need to be aware of? How would I check that he has the right to rent out this land as allotments - there is only a mobile number on the board?

This has been a great thread to read - loads of advice and links. I think a few late nights will be in order as I try and read up on everything!

TIA

Allotments are agricultural land in terms of their land use - the definition of agriculture includes horticulture. Even if the land was not in an agricultural use before, changing the use of any land to agricultural is not 'development' (see Section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990). Planning permission is only required for 'development', therefore no permission is required to use land for agricultural purposes. However, if the car park involves any kind of hardstanding, then it will definitely require planning permission. Has your council got a map of planning applications on their website? Should be easy to ascertain whether it has permission then.

Sporticus

planning_officer wrote: »

Allotments are agricultural land in terms of their land use - the definition of agriculture includes horticulture. Even if the land was not in an agricultural use before, changing the use of any land to agricultural is not 'development' (see Section 55 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990). Planning permission is only required for 'development', therefore no permission is required to use land for agricultural purposes. However, if the car park involves any kind of hardstanding, then it will definitely require planning permission. Has your council got a map of planning applications on their website? Should be easy to ascertain whether it has permission then.

Thanks planning-officer - will look into this. If he just puts in a load of gravel and makes a car park in that way, would it have to have the same consent? The land was previously a market garden and so may have been there already I guess. He might just be updating it.

I have spoken to the man since my original post and these rentals are going to be done in accordance with the parish council. Don't know whether we'll get one now as it's in the neighbouring parish - hopefully going to view on Thursday/Friday but he's not taking any details until then.

Watch this space.

planning_officer

Sorry for late reply, but yes - even if he dumps a load of gravel, that counts as laying hardstanding and is operational development which would require planning permission.

oojeyboojey

I've just been told that I've got an allotment allocated to me! I'm very glad, as I've been on the waiting list for about 2 years. I'll be checking out the site and going over the terms of the rental agreement in a week's time, but in the meantime, I thought I'd find out a few basics:

1. How much money should I put aside for things like a greenhouse/shed/timber for raised beds/plants etc? (I'll be checking freecycle and ebay and gumtree for cheapy/freebies, but I'd like to know roughly what a reasonable budget would be).

2. What resources are available for planning and mapping out allotments?

3. Can I keep chickens on an allotment, and is it a good idea to? (I have my reservations, since the allotment is about a 20 minute walk away from my house, so I couldn't see off any foxes or cats bothering the hens, assuming of course that allotment agreements allow for hens to be kept).

4. Can you "sublet" a portion of your allotment to a friend? Or does that depend on your council?

Any advice more experienced and greenfingered folk can give me would be appreciated!

Lotus-eater

1. Really depends on what you can afford. From nothing to hundreds and hundreds.
2. Piece of paper and a pencil?
3. Ask the committee, if its a good idea or not........ depends on your situation, I wouldn't do it. I think there was a thread on here about it somewhere, you could search for it.
4. Ask the committee, I can't see a problem with it, after all, your friend could just be helping you on there.

Best of luck.

irishwexford

We took on our first allotment this year in March. Had a lot of digging to do and did a plan of sorts. Grew pototoes (new and main crop), carrotts, parsnips, onions, sweetcorn, beetroot, cabbages, caulies, beans (runner and french) leeks and squashes. Had a bumper crop of everything. We would not risk putting greenhouse on there so grew everything in two mini greenhouses at home. Laid farmyard manure for pototoes and chicken manure for everything else. We have one tenant who has chickens but kids broke the lock and let them out one evening, we had to round them up and put them back. I do not want to be responsible for keeping chickens alive and healthy, so will not be going down that road. Making a plan for next year as everything will need rotation and hopfully in better order. Will grow less cabbages and more potatoes and sweetcorn. Take it one step at a time and read, read, read.
Best of luck, we have had a lot of pleanure from ours and not boght any veggies all summer.

arkonite_babe

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