Selling Off Our Green Future

The sale of allotments by the government threatens food security, community cohesion, and environmental resilience. In this analysis, we explore why allotments matter now more than ever.

The Government’s Attack on Allotments

Angela Rayner, as Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister, has quietly approved the sale of at least eight allotment sites since Labour entered government. This policy signals that cherished green spaces are vulnerable to budget cuts and short-term land sales.

Councils, burdened by chronic underfunding with an £8 billion shortfall projected by 2029, have been granted “flexibility” to dispose of assets to balance their books. However, this is no solution—it is a fire sale of essential community infrastructure.

Why Allotments Matter

Allotments are not mere patches of soil—they are:

• Sanctuaries for mental health and well-being
• Sustainable food sources that enhance food security
• Biodiversity hotspots and vital corridors for pollinators
• Community hubs that foster inclusion and social cohesion

In an era of rising food insecurity and mental health crises, the expansion of these green spaces should be prioritized—not sacrificed.

Ecological and Social Benefits

Biodiversity: Allotments support native species, reduce air pollution, and build climate resilience. Natural England classifies them as essential Green Infrastructure.

Soil Health: With fewer chemicals and richer organic matter than industrial farmland, allotments produce healthier crops and nurture stronger local food networks.

Public Health: Green social prescribing initiatives and community gardening projects demonstrate that time spent on allotments delivers benefits equivalent to five years of lowered biological age.

Driving Forces Behind the Sell-Offs

Local authorities are effectively cornered by central government, yet no alternative revenue-raising powers or ring-fencing measures have been offered. Instead, councils resort to selling valuable land, not because it’s worthless, but because developers want it.

The sale of sites in Storrington (West Sussex), Ashfield (Nottinghamshire), and Bolsover (Derbyshire) is a case in point. Behind each transaction lies a fractured community and lost heritage.

Charting a Greener, Fairer Future

We must reverse this policy by:

1. Ring-fencing existing allotments and safeguarding green spaces in local planning.
2. Investing in new plots, embedding horticulture in schools and healthcare.
3. Empowering councils with sustainable revenue tools, not asset disposals.
4. Promoting urban agriculture and nature-based solutions.

Allotments are the building blocks of a resilient, equitable, and green future. We cannot afford to lose another plot.

Explore related insights: Read more on protecting our green heritage