Huge variation in UK allotment rents
19 December 2011
Allotment rents fluctuate wildly across the country, with plot holders in Surrey paying more than 50 times as much for their plot as those in Derbyshire, according to a survey of allotment provision carried out by the University of Leicester.
Researchers found rents have gone up by an average of 21% in the last three years, and confirmed that allotment waiting lists remain high, at 86,787, although this is a drop from the previous figure of 94,124 in 2010.
'We see this as the first step in opening up allotment data and making it freely available,' said researcher Dr Farida Vis. 'As allotments are such a highly valued resource we feel that accurate and open data has the potential to deliver far-reaching societal benefits.'
The team asked 216 councils across England to answer questions about rents, water charges, changes to tenancy agreements and discounts offered.
Priciest allotment
The most expensive place in the country to rent an allotment is Runnymede, in Berkshire, which has increased rents from 34p a square metre in 2008 to 55p in 2011. That wasn't the highest rent increase though: Cannock Chase, in Staffordshire, more than doubled its rent to £108.92 for a full plot by 2011 – the fourth highest charge in the country.
The longest waiting lists are in Wyre Borough Council, in Lancashire, where there are almost 12 people waiting for each of the area's 26 plots. However many councils have closed their waiting lists altogether, making the actual number of people wanting an allotment but unable to get one potentially much higher.