Salford has 26 allotment sites, containing 660 plots, with 70% of them self-managed. Since the lockdowns, demand has grown by 33% and there's now a waiting time for upward of five years to get a plot, with a total of 915 people on the waiting list.
The highest number of people on the list are in Swinton South with 90, followed by Walkden North with 71, Little Hulton 62 and Irwell Riverside with 61.
To meet the demand and 'promote biodiversity and environmentally sustainable practices', Salford Council's draft Supplementary Planning Document states that "New residential developments should contribute to the achievement of a minimum of 5,000m² (0.50 hectares) of allotments per 1,000 households; based on a minimum of 10 plots provided on new plots being 125m² (0.0125ha) in size".
The Council is pushing 'self management' for allotments arguing that it "promotes community cohesion and ownership", that "Income from rent provides opportunities for site infrastructure improvements"; and that there will be "Opportunities to secure external funding for projects and site developments not available to city council" plus a "Reduction in officer time and Council resources".
Securing allotment sites doesn't come cheap – a new site of 23 allotments in Tatton Street, Ordsall, cost £170,000, while three sites have been secured via the planning system, with two in Pendleton, including one by the M602 motorway which displeased one councillor (see previous Salford Star article – click here) .
There are also proposals to extend Beechfield allotments from 12 to 52 plots, although there are issues of "high levels of contamination", while formerly derelict plots are being brought back into use, plus community growing schemes have been created on the former bowling green in Buile Hill Park (as part of a mental health support project) and at Cleavely Nursery.
The Council states that it is "Maximising opportunities to increase sites and number of plots"...
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