Sir Sadiq Khan has been urged to work with councils to create more allotments across London, as waiting lists to access them remain staggeringly high.<\/p>\n
In a new report published on Wednesday, the London Assembly\u2018s environment committee has asked the mayor to conduct a review of food-growing sites across the capital, arguing that having more of them will provide people \u201cwith a connection to nature and a source of healthy food\u201d.<\/p>\n
It comes as data shared with the committee reveals a marked disparity between the number of allotments in inner and outer London. While Ealing has 60 separate allotments for example, Kensington and Chelsea has none.<\/p>\n
Even in boroughs where allotments do exist however, it can take several years on a waiting list before getting access to one. Research by Greenpeace in 2023 found that in total, 30,500 Londoners were on waiting lists for allotments.<\/p>\n
Camden Council found in 2022 that the average wait for one in the borough was 12 years, though an FOI request by MyJobQuote the previous year estimated it was considerably longer, at 17 years and six months \u2013 meaning it had the longest average wait in the country.<\/p>\n
The \u2018allotment gap\u2019 between inner and outer London is partly explained by the fact that the statutory requirement for councils to provide allotments was ended in 1963 for inner London boroughs.<\/p>\n
Despite its complete lack of allotments, Kensington and Chelsea has developed a community kitchen garden scheme since 2009, which now has over 50 sites and gives over 700 residents the opportunity to grow food, according to the committee\u2019s report.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a city where more than half of households now live in flats \u2013 often with limited access to personal gardens \u2013 community food growing sites offer Londoners access to land to grow food,\u201d said the committee\u2019s chairman, Zack Polanski.<\/p>\n
\u201cFood growing has a number of clear benefits \u2013 it teaches us how to be more sustainable, builds a sense of community and reduces the impact on the environment, with less need for outsourcing food into London.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Polanski, who is also deputy leader of the Green Party, added: \u201cThrough our investigation we heard from a number of community food growing groups who highlighted to us the barriers that prevent more Londoners growing food. Access to land was a key issue, which is why we are calling on the mayor to carry out a review of available land for potential further food growing sites.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also calling on the mayor to commit ongoing funding to London-wide food growing networks to help improve the access for Londoners to grow their own food.<\/p>\n
\u201cLondon is a huge city, with great resources \u2013 it would be inspiring for Londoners to be supported properly to grow more food.\u201d<\/p>\n
Approached for comment on the committee\u2019s report, a spokeswoman for Sir Sadiq said: \u201cCurrent policy on food-growing will also be considered as part of the ongoing London Plan review, ahead of publication of the next draft plan in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mayor is also committed to creating a new fund which will enable councils and communities to bid for funding to develop green spaces, including those where they can grow food. The mayor will review this report and respond fully in due course.\u201d<\/p>\n
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