Councils shrink allotments as demand soars, offering plots up to 85 times smaller

Local authorities across the UK are increasingly offering much smaller allotment plots as they grapple with unprecedented demand, according to a new survey by the Association for Public Sector Excellence (APSE).

The APSE annual survey found around three quarters of councils (76%) have reduced the size of standard allotment plots. Historically a full allotment measured about 300 square yards, large enough to supply a family of four with fruit and vegetables, but fewer than one-third of councils (32%) now provide plots of that size. There are an estimated 330,000 rented allotment plots nationwide and roughly 175,000 people on waiting lists, some of them waiting as long as 15 years.

Councils have responded to demand by offering a range of smaller options. Many have switched to half-size plots of roughly 150 square yards or quarter plots of about 75 square yards. About 17% of allotments are now around 35 square yards, often described as "micro" or "kitchen garden" spaces. Some councils have introduced very small "starter" plots as little as 3.5 square yards — which APSE noted is 85 times smaller than a traditional full-size allotment.

APSE's report author, Matt Ellis, said councils are "adapting to unprecedented demand for allotments by introducing smaller, more manageable plots," and that shrinking plots can make allotment gardening accessible to people with busy modern lifestyles. National organisations and prominent gardeners have long argued that subdividing plots helps reduce waiting lists and encourages new gardeners. Television gardeners Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock have both advocated dividing larger holdings into smaller plots to increase access.

The appetite for allotments has been fuelled in part by the ongoing cost-of-living squeeze, which has encouraged households to grow more of their own food. But demand has outpaced supply, and the number of people on waiting lists has climbed. A recent study by building materials supplier Dino Decking found the typical wait on a council list is around four years; Freedom of Information requests to councils in England, Scotland and Wales have previously shown some applicants in London waiting as long as 15 years. Longest lists cited in the APSE findings include Portsmouth (7,420 people), Edinburgh (6,846) and Bristol (6,466).

Councils say budget pressures are driving changes to how allotment services are run. Some authorities have closed waiting lists, while others have reconfigured plots to accommodate more users. Fees for plots have also risen: APSE reported that 15% of full-sized allotments now cost more than £140 a year to rent, with some charging up to £250; the proportion charging less than £60 a year has fallen by about a third since 2019.

Local approaches vary. Brighton and Hove City Council offers 30-square-yard micro plots and 12-square-yard plots designed for people with restricted mobility or wheelchair users. The London Borough of Havering has introduced 3.5-square-yard starter plots aimed at newcomers.

Advocates say smaller plots can lower the barrier to entry and suit people who work full time, while critics warn that excessive subdivision risks eroding allotments' traditional role as substantial food-growing plots and community green spaces. Mike Farrell, chair of the National Allotment Society, said some councils have effectively reduced waiting lists by shrinking plot sizes but cautioned that the official waiting list numbers may understate demand because many people do not apply if they believe there is no realistic chance of securing a plot.

Individual allotment holders described mixed experiences. Diane Appleyard, a member of the National Allotment Society in Bristol, said she no longer expects to get a full-sized plot and that a quarter plot is sufficient for her current needs; she listed a range of produce she grows, from soft fruit and brassicas to a fig tree and a miniature pomegranate that fruited this year.

The pressure on councils has also led to controversy when sites designated for allotments are sold for housing. Campaigners and some politicians have criticised decisions to dispose of allotment land to make way for development. Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader and an allotment holder, publicly criticised Labour politician Angela Rayner for approving the sale of several allotment sites, saying the moves threatened community space. A Conservative housing spokesman at the time voiced similar concerns, calling the sales problematic for those reliant on local plots.

Environmental and community groups warn that shrinking and selling allotment land can reduce urban green infrastructure and local food resilience. Yet local authorities face competing demands on limited land and constrained budgets, forcing them to balance allotment provision with housing needs and other public services. APSE said councils are both maintaining and rethinking allotment services, promoting smaller, more manageable plots to broaden participation even as they confront resource pressures and sustained waiting lists.

As councils continue to reconfigure allotment provision, advocates say clearer long-term strategies and protection for designated sites would help safeguard their community and environmental benefits while meeting growing interest in growing food at a local level.