The New Local Government Network has welcomed Government backing of its proposals to build more allotments on private land, announced today by Communities Secretary John Denham MP and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn MP.
In September 2009, NLGN called on the Government and local councils to make better use of the estimated 3,500 hectares of unused brownfield land to help cater for the estimated 100,000 people in the UK currently on a waiting list for an allotment plot.
The Government announced today that it would be working with local authorities and private land owners to create more space for local residents to grow produce and to create a community land bank of public sector brownfield sites which could be turned into allotments.
However, NLGN urged the Government to look again at introducing tax breaks for land owners who donate land for local community gardening and to reserve the right to introduce a Large Private Estates Commission which could have the power to temporarily transfer unused plots of private land to the local community for allotment use.
www.nlgn.org.uk