Comments on: Allotment or Building Plot

By: Gill

Gill — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:37:36 +0000

At my allotment in Warrington we are not allowed to have structures at all – no greenhouses or sheds. I think the most you can get away with is a plastic polytunnel.

By: John

John — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 14:55:55 +0000

The German gardens are known as “kleinegarten” and the culture is quite different. Some have electricity and some people will spend all weekend there.
I recall that in the 60’s the government commissioned a report, the Thorpe report, which went to several continental countries to examine this as a real possibility for British allotments which were being abandoned as traditional veg and fruit growing plots.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 13:26:40 +0000

I agree that in the UK, putting in hard-to-remove structures should not be allowed. When I took over my allotment, it was hard enough to simply remove the generous crop of weeds. If there had been any concrete to remove? Horrors!

However, Janet in Germany is describing a culture in which allotments are viewed differently, allowing for something more like chalets at the seaside here. What is the “done thing” in one place isn’t necessarily the “done thing” elsewhere.

The current issue of Country Living (August?) has a feature on Swedish public gardens (I think that’s the term) which include small holiday homes.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:28:19 +0000

An allotment site near to us, in Derbyshire, has plots which resemble the play area at the local park. Councils should get to grips with this sort of abuse, especially when in the neighbouring town there is a waiting list of about 10 years.

By: Darren

Darren — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:06:24 +0000

VERY WELL SAID JOHN! I couldn’t agree more,and with the other replies. I’ve recently taken hold of a tenancy with Bolton Council(which came with a few terms and conditions!)and am required to submit a plan of my plot with proposed siting and measurements of any buldings or structures,with limits on heights and size.I’m ok with this(surprised,didnt expect it at first),think its a bit of fair play for all.
The plot is uneven clay soil with a slight gradient and i’ve been pondering the prospect of laying some sort of bases(recyclable,of course)for future shed and greenhouse. your description above sounds about right for the job,nice one John. OH YEAH! Cool couple of books,by the way! Later all.

By: Donald Cape

Donald Cape — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:55:07 +0000

Our allotment site is owned by the City of Carlisle Council and rented to people on an individual basis. The Council did want plotholders to form an association but after two organised meeting they decided to leave things as they are for the time being.
The terms and conditions in the rental agreement have a clause that reads ” no sheds, greenhouses or other structures can be erected without written permission from the City Council. I am in the proccess of putting down a base for a greenhouse consisting of 440mm X 200mmx100mm concrete blocks set only on well sieved soil. The path inside will be slabs set in soil as well.
When I rang up to check if was OK the Green Spaces Officer for the Council said that it was fine to do it this way.
I think the rest of the plotholders would have plent to say if someone did start to put up anything they thought wasn’t within what they, and me ,thought wasn’t suitable and would be difficult to remove if the plot was vacated.

By: Janet Kaiser

Janet Kaiser — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:39:45 +0000

I see this is another area where the “rule book” of a German allotment association, however tedious, has its merits! My husband and I took over an allotment in Flensburg on the German-Danish border last September and are delighted with what the previous/late tenant left behind. Indeed, we paid €700 to his family as a sort of takeover fee and although we have a lot of rubbish (which allotment does not have its fair share?) and had to pay a lot to rid the site of asbestos (the association demanded that of us)a concrete floored structure with three “rooms” is an absolute god-send. They are: a sitting room/kitchen with car-port type lean-too over the entrance; a toilet which doubles as toolshed and a potting shed which is full of “usefull” stuff and a mouse population, so we have not quite found where it starts or ends yet!

The living area has a gas stove and we believe the previous tenant used to spend the night there often during the summer.

According to the rule book, we “garden friends” are allowed to put up a permanent building no bigger than 24 square metres made of stone and/or wood only. The base may be concrete if the committee agree… In practice, it means we have chalet-type small buildings which are pretty substantial and add to the ammenties and durability of buildings. Not to mention health and safety! Now that would send ME personally off on a rant, far more than the presence or absence of a concrete floor or two!

Seriously, from what I see here in the North, a great many people are using allotments more as “holiday homes” than productive land. Pretty gardens with barbecue facilities, hammocks, rose bowers, table tennis, paddling pools, sand pits, etc. are in the majority. It is understandable when the percentage of people who live in rented flats without gardens is far higher here than the UK and the available time for gardening is but a few hours per week.

Some allotment assoications demand a certain minimum percentage of the land (usually 30%) be for food production, but if the trend is towards leisure rather than feeding the masses, it makes sense to build to last. At the end of the day, each association can decide how much building is sustainable and to be honest, the sturdy structures bring families and friends out to share in the fun much more than the rickety, often highly unsanitary sheds of yore!

You pays yer money and takes yer choice!

Greetings from a cool cellar somewhere in a pretty hot Flensburg!

By: Liam

Liam — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:37:25 +0000

Surely a clause should be written into the agreements signed by each plot holder to the effect that any buildings or structures erected and/or any paths or patio areas etc that are laid should be temporary in nature and easily removed, as and when the plot is surrendered. This could then be enforced by those who manage the allotments and they could insist that the plot holder remove any structures deemed to be in breach of the clause.

By: annette

annette — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:06:10 +0000

Hello, with the permanent structures,just refer to any rules given out that concrete not allowed on allotment plots, think of it as slugs and snails and treat the prob lems straight away, to go away, thankyou for your news, Annette

By: Tracy

Tracy — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:05:25 +0000

John, I quite agree. I have put two thirds of mine to raised beds and used begged and borrowed slabs for most paths between them but they are only dropped in place and easy to shift when the time comes I’m no longer there.

There are a few too permanent structures going up lately.