Dear Ms Campbell,

Freedom of Information request

Thank you for your letter which was received on 2^nd February 2009 in which you asked for information about allotment provision in the borough. You requested the following information:

The table below answers the first and fifth question of your request. 

Allotment Supply and Capacity

The Council does not hold information relating to waiting lists as we do not directly manage allotments. Further information on waiting lists can be found on the Hackney Allotment Society's website at: http://www.hackneyallotments.org.uk/index.html.

However, I hope the following information regarding the Council's planning permission is of use.   

The Council's planning policy position starts with the adopted Unitary Development Plan (UDP) (1995), and saved Policy OS8 of states that “The Council will resist the loss of allotments, and extend provision wherever possible”.    

The Council is preparing a new spatial plan known as the Core Strategy which along with other strategies / plans in the Local Development Framework will eventually replace the UDP. However, until the Core Strategy and other documents are formally adopted the UDP remains the statutory land use plan. The Core Strategy is scheduled to be adopted in summer 2010.

The Core Strategy Preferred Policy Options was published for a 6 week public consultation period in April 2008. The Core Strategy sets out the overarching strategic direction for Hackney, and one of its key aims is to protect and enhance all green spaces including allotments. Government advice is that the Core Strategy should not to go into details about specific land uses. Detailed policies such as OS8 above will be contained in other documents which will follow and complement the Core Strategy. If you like to find out more about Hackney's Local Development Framework in general and the Core Strategy in particular please either contact me or visit our webpage http://www.hackney.gov.uk/ep-planning-policy.htm

As part of the Core Strategy preparations an Open Space Assessment was carried out in 2005. The assessment included demand and supply of allotments in the borough.

The study commented that in addition to providing the opportunity for local food production, allotments form part of the borough's network of green infrastructure contributing to biodiversity. Furthermore there are physical, mental, social, educational, historical and cultural benefits associated with allotments.

The Society's website indicates that are 118 plots whilst the assessment found 113 covering 0.873 hectares. The 7 allotment sites are located on close to the eastern and western boundaries, with 4 located in the E5 postcode area.

The assessment also found 100% occupancy on the 7 sites it identified, and `suppressed' demand of applicants on waiting lists. The assessment made some calculations about `potential' demand - those who may rent an allotment now or in the future but do not because of the distribution of the supply. Latent potential demand for allotments is also influenced through demographic characteristics, accessibility, management and public awareness.

Atkins estimate that a combination of latent suppressed and potential demand achieves a requirement for 452 plots by 2016. Based upon a ratio of 129.4 plots per hectare, this equates to an area of 3.49 hectares - an additional 2.62 hectares to the existing 0.873 hectares.

Therefore, the evidence is quite clear that there is a demand led requirement to increase the quantitative provision of land for allotments. This may be accommodated by expanding existing sites where possible, which may address some suppressed demand. However, this may not necessarily help those who do not live within a comfortable distance of existing sites, especially in the southern and central parts of the borough. Therefore new sites will need to be identified to meet demand, which could be on other existing open spaces such as parks or areas within housing estates.

The documents proposed under the LDF in particular the Site Allocation Plan would be the appropriate place to identify and safeguard new or expanded sites for allotments. However, for sites to be identified and to have the necessary support discussion with both internal and external stakeholders must be held, including but not limited to, Property Services, Culture, the Hackney Allotment Society, local interest groups etc.

I hope this addresses your query, and as we progress with the LDF documents, I will ensure that the issue of additional allotment sites is considered.

Please note the information is still covered by copyright legislation. You are not authorised to re-use this information for commercial or research purposes as defined by the Re-Use of Public Sector Regulations 2005. If you do wish to re-use this information please contact the Information Governance Team, 6-15 Florfield Road, Hackney London E8 1DT.

If you are dissatisfied with this response and wish to appeal, please write to the Information Governance Team, Appeals, 6-15 Florfield Road, Hackney London E8 1DTand your complaint will be dealt with through our Internal Review procedure.

If you are still not satisfied following the Internal Review, you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner. He can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone: 01625 545 700

If you are dissatisfied with this response and wish to appeal, please write to the Information Governance Team, Appeals, 6-15 Florfield Road, Hackney London E8 1DTand your complaint will be dealt with through our Internal Review procedure.

If you are still not satisfied following the Internal Review, you have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner. He can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF 
Telephone: 01625 545 700

Yours sincerely

Reaz Khedarun

Corporate Information Governance Officer

ICT

Christine Peacock, Head of ICT, 6- 15 Florfield Road, Reading Lane, London E8 1DT

E8 1DT