- Durham County Council’s Cabinet will be asked to approve changes to allotment rules that seek to balance the need for clarity and consistency across sites with flexibility and compassion for tenants.
- It follows a public consultation which attracted 343 responses. Feedback demonstrated broad support for clearer, fairer and more flexible rules, particularly regarding cultivation expectations, animal‑keeping, and long‑standing caravans.
- Under the proposals, the qualifying period for co-workers to automatically gain the tenancy of a plot if the lead tenant gives it up would be reduced from five years to three.
- The changes recognise the valuable role allotments play in County Durham communities, including boosting mental health and wellbeing and bringing people together.
Ensuring a fairer and more flexible approach is at the heart of proposed changes to a local authority’s allotment tenancy agreement and policies.
Durham County Council’s Cabinet will be asked to approve a series of changes that seek to balance the need for clarity and consistency across local authority-owned allotments with flexibility and compassion for tenants.
The proposals build upon changes introduced to the council’s policy in 2023 and follow a public consultation held earlier this year. With 343 responses, the consultation provided a valuable insight on key topics including cultivation expectations, animal-keeping, long-standing caravans and the succession of plots to co-workers.
Cabinet will also hear that demand for allotments remains high in County Durham, with more than 2,300 people on the waiting list.
The council continues to invest in allotment sites, including fencing, drainage and community-led projects. However, feedback from tenants, allotment associations and the council’s new administration highlighted further areas for improvement, leading to the consultation and proposed changes.
Cllr Nicola Lyons, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for stronger communities and belonging, said: “Allotments are valued community assets, providing a space for people to grow their own food and experience the health benefits of time spent outdoors. They also bring families together and create a sense of connection among people of all ages.
“We know how much allotments mean to people; that’s why we were so keen to hear from tenants and anyone with an interest in allotments before making any changes. I would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation.
“Your feedback has helped to shape these proposals, which we believe will result in fairer and more flexible tenancy agreements that not only reflect modern growing practices, but the need to ensure allotments remain tidy and productive.”
Next week, Cabinet will be asked to agree to the following changes to allotment policy, transition rules and tenancy agreements:
- Continue with the existing rule that bans vehicles, vehicle parts and caravans. The transition rule would be updated to allow tenants that already have a caravan to keep it until their tenancy ends or the caravan becomes a hazard.
- Reduce the minimum cultivation level from 75 per cent to 50 per cent, including what is grown in greenhouses and polytunnels. The remaining 50 per cent can be used for other purposes, as long as it does not break other rules within the tenancy agreement. Structures can still not cover more than 25 per cent of the plot and grass and weeds must be cut back regularly, including on bordering paths or tracks.
- Soft fruits such as strawberries and raspberries would be considered as cultivation and would contribute towards the 50 per cent. A maximum of 25 per cent of a plot for fruit trees would be added to tenancies.
- Under current rules, cockerels are not allowed on allotments due to noise nuisance. The proposed changes would also remove any remaining exceptions to this rule, with a transition period of one year. This approach is consistent with the policies of many other local councils.
- Reduce the qualifying period for co-workers to automatically gain the tenancy of a plot if the lead tenant gives it up. Currently tenants can register one co-worker per plot and, after five years, co-workers gain a right to take over the plot if the tenant no longer wants or is unable to maintain it. Before five years, plots are offered to people on the waiting list. The proposed change would see this reduced to three years, reflecting tenants’ health, mobility and circumstances. Succession would also be allowed in cases of bereavement involving a partner, parent or child within the first five years, provided the co-worker was registered within one year of the tenancy starting.
- Introduce a new rule that allows larger structures on plots that have historically been used mainly for pigeons. Tenants would have to reduce structures to 25 per cent of the plot when they leave. Pigeon plots are exempt from the 50 per cent cultivation rule and would require permission. They would also be allowed under the succession rules.
Cabinet will meet at County Hall at 10am on Wednesday 18 March. The meeting will also be streamed live on the council’s YouTube channel.
