§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what encouragement he is giving to local authorities to(a) maintain and preserve allotments and (b) provide replacement land where land formerly used for allotments has been subject to development. [177616]
§ Keith HillThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has a number of measures to encourage local authorities to maintain and preserve allotments. Firstly, if an allotment authority is of the opinion that there is a demand for allotments in its area, it is required, under section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908, to provide a sufficient number of allotments and to let them to persons residing in its area who want them.
Secondly, our advice to local planning authorities on planning for open space, sport and recreation is contained in Planning Policy Guidance note 17 (PPG 17) and recognises allotments as one of the types of open space that may be of public value. Local planning authorities are required to undertake robust audits of such spaces and to conduct assessments of need for their areas. Where the need for particular types of open spaces such as allotments is established, planning authorities are expected to protect them through adopting and implementing appropriate policies.
Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (PPG3) appreciates the value that open spaces such as allotments can add to a community's quality of life, health and contribution to nature conservation. Paragraph 53 states that local planning authorities should have clear policies for the protection and creation of open space, and new housing developments should incorporate sufficient provision where such spaces are not already adequately provided within easy access of the new housing.
PPG3 (Annexe C) also specifically excludes parks, recreation grounds and allotments from the definition of previously developed land—even though these areas may contain certain urban features such as pavilions and other buildings, and protecting them from the priority given to development on brownfield land.
738WThirdly, in partnership with the Local Government Association, Greater London Authority, and Shell Better Britain Campaign, we published "growing in the community: a good practice guide for the management of allotments", in June 2001. This guide provides comprehensive advice and good practice for local authorities on all aspects of allotment management.
In terms of providing replacement land, a requirement of section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925 is that if an authority wishes to dispose of statutory allotment land, and existing plotholders would be displaced "adequate provision" must be made for them.
PPG17 also provides advice for the instance where a replacement is needed for a site required for development. It specifies that the replacement land should be at least as accessible to current and potential new users, and at least equivalent in terms of size, usefulness, attractiveness and quality. Where possible the aim should be to realise qualitative improvements.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many allotments existed(a) 10 years ago and (b) in the last year for which figures are available. [177617]
§ Keith HillThe "English Allotments Survey: report of the joint survey of allotments in England", published in 1997 by the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, provided estimates of the numbers of allotment plots in England for four specific years—1970, 1977, 1978 and 1996. Therefore data on allotments in 1994 are not held centrally, however in 1996 there were 296,923 plots in England.
In "Living Places: Cleaner, Safer, Greener" the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sets out plans to update the survey and expand it to include community gardens and city farms. This research has now been commissioned and links to the development of a national database of different types of green spaces. Disposal of statutory allotments are also administered and monitored by the Government offices for the regions.