Allotments

Work is underway on the allotments and we are working towards these being run by the Parish Council rather than the management company. We hope they will be completed by the end of 2025 and are therefore opening applications for residents across Hunts Grove.

You can apply for an allotment using this form. The closing date for initial applications is 30 November.
You can also express interest in being part of a community allotment group. Find more information below and complete this form.

N.B. We previously ran a survey to understand demand for allotments of different sizes, in which people could express an interest in having an allotment. If you completed that survey, you should have been added to the Parish Council Mailing List in order to receive updates and be told when applications were open. However, completing that survey was not itself an application.

Things to know

Location and size of allotments

The allotments will be located off Haresfield Lane near the farmhouse and the site of the community centre. You can also see the location on this map. You can find the approved plans here. We expect allotments to be available in sizes of approximately:

125m2 (traditionally called a "half-plot") - about the same as 11 car parking spaces
60m2 (a "quarter plot") - about 6 car parking spaces
30m2 (a "micro plot") - about 3 car parking spaces.

It may be possible for us to offer raised beds.

Timescales

We are working towards the following timescales, but may extend the dates if completion of the allotments is delayed.

Closing date for initial applications: 30 November
Allocation of allotments: December
Deadline for accepting an allocated allotment: January (TBC).

Applications

Given the expected demand for allotments, each household is limited to one allotment.
All allotment tenants must be residents of the parish of Hunts Grove and aged 18 or over. We will accept applications from those turning 18 before the end of 2025 and from those who are in the process of moving to Hunts Grove, but these conditions will need to be met before a tenancy can be agreed. It will not be possible to hold allotments for more than a short period.
Should it not be possible for the Parish Council to manage the allotments, we would look to share application details with the Management Company. Applicants can opt out of this on the application form.

Allocation

It is possible that demand will outstrip supply of allotment plots, and that we will not be able to allocate everyone an allotment or their preferred size. We will seek to offer a range of allotments at each size whilst seeking to maximise the opportunity to have an allotment.
Allocations will be made using a random draw, with applicants drawn being offered their highest size preference that is available. The date of application will not be taken into account for initial allocations.

Accepting an allotment

Applying for an allotment is not a commitment to accept an allotment if allocated.
Confirmation of an allotment will be conditional on acceptance of the lease including Terms and Conditions, and receipt of any necessary fees and the initial allotment rent (amounts to be confirmed). We expect to offer a month-long window for this acceptance and payments, before reallocating allotments.

Waiting list and future applications

Those who cannot be allocated an allotment will be added to a waiting list.
After the initial allocation of allotments, we will reopen applications to allocate any remaining plots and/or to allow residents to join the waiting list.

Community allotments

We are keen to create the opportunity for residents to come together in a community-led allotment project. By working on an allotment collectively, we hope to provide not only a source of fresh produce, but also a chance for neighbours to meet, collaborate, and learn & share skills.

The council would therefore like to hear from residents who are interested in joining and helping run this project, whether that’s through volunteering time, sharing skills, or simply getting involved in growing together. This will help us determine whether the project is viable and how best to proceed.

We will confirm in due course whether we are able to proceed with community plots.