Growing your own has exploded in popularity in recent years and waiting lists for council allotments are soaring.

But finding out how exactly long allotment waiting lists are everywhere in the country is a mammoth data task.



Margaret Campbell and the National Society for Allotment and Leisure Gardeners have produced a report on allotment waiting lists (PDF) highlighting that although the data is difficult to obtain and should be treated with caution, waiting lists remain very high and extremely high in some places in 2011.

This waiting list data only shows information for those sites for which councils had data. Moreover, 32 councils have reported that they have closed their lists altogether, and are no longer collecting data.



Through freedom of information requests we've obtained additional allotment related details for 323 councils. Of the councils that relied 107 were not responsible for or had no allotments.

For the 216 that did, we have processed rent data for 93% so far, standardising traditional land measurements (perches/rods/poles) still widely used to p/sqm.

Analysing the data we found:

the average cost of allotments has gone up by 21% over three years

the 32 councils that have closed their waiting lists haven't got longer lists than average

the 32 councils that have closed their waiting lists haven't got longer lists than average on average there's one person waiting for each plot in England

In 2008 rents varied between 1p/sqm (Bolsover and Chesterfield) to 52p/sqm in South LakeLand, with the average being 15p

In 2008 rents varied between 1p/sqm (Bolsover and Chesterfield) to 52p/sqm in South LakeLand, with the average being 15p In 2011 only Bolsover still charges 1p/sqm, although South Lakeland was the only council to reduce rents (50p/sqm) it remains one of the most expensive councils in the country, with Runnymede the most expensive at 55p/sqm

Between 2008 and 2011 27 councils did not increase rents, 91 councils kept their rent increases under 20%, and 60 councils increased by more than 20%

Chesterfield, Hertsmere, Knowsley, Lambeth, Islington, Brent and Cannon Chase raised rents by 100% or more, but four remain close to the national average charges, with Islington, Brent and Cannock Chase charging far more than this

It is the rents for 2012, however, where we will probably see significant changes once the full picture emerges. Birmingham is one such example where the standard rent of £28 per plot (11p/sqm) currently is likely to go up to £60 (24p/sqm) next year and proposed rent rises are currently heavily disputed by plot holders.

Changes to tenancy agreements may also highlight what lies ahead for the future of allotments in years to come. Although we are still completing our full analysis of these agreements, it is clear that some are making potentially far-reaching changes after limited or no consultation. The new agreement (PDF) for Tameside (Greater Manchester) for example highlights this new plot use clause:

For the purposes of excluding compensation for improvements under section 47 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 the Tenant must not plant on the Plot: (a) standard or other fruit trees permanently set out; (b) fruit bushes (c) strawberry plants; (d) asparagus, rhubarb, and other vegetable crops which continue productive for two or more years. (5.11)

What does this mean for allotment owners?

People are strongly discouraged from planting fruit trees because the council does not want to get into discussions over compensation once the tenant leaves? Or does planting fruit on your plot breach the agreement so that you are thrown off? How this will be enforced is unclear, but with 32 councils highlighting that they will make further changes to agreements and another 12 saying they might, this is worth keeping a close eye on as sweeping changes to the future of allotments in the UK may well be in the small print.

The ongoing story of allotment data is on this website. We also have data in a Google spreadsheet and interactive map for you to explore here.

Data summary

English allotment waiting list and costs Click heading to sort Name Number of plots (waiting list data known) People on waiting list Rent (pence/m2) in 2008 Rent (pence/m2) in 2011 Increase in rent 2008-2011 (%) Link to council FOI response on waiting lists Hartlepool Council 1019 1086 14 15 7.1 response Middlesbrough Council 900 208 13 18 38.5 response Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council 760 746 13 17 30.8 response Stockton on Tees Council 231 179 11 11 0 response Darlington Borough Council 816 547 17 19 11.8 response Halton Borough Council 338 431 11 12 9.1 response Warrington Borough Council 253 437 20 22 10 response Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council unknown unknown 18 18 0 response Blackpool Borough Council 370 256 16 17 6.3 response Hull City Council 1800 1128 11 12 9.1 response East Riding of Yorkshire Council 99 205 10 11 10 response North East Lincolnshire Council 1852 87 29 31 6.9 response North Lincolnshire Council 417 175 8 9 12.5 response City of York Council 870 270 16 27 68.8 response Derby City Council unknown unknown 19 20 5.3 response Leicester City Council 3154 197 8 8 0 response Rutland County Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown not submitted Nottingham City Council 794 365 7 7 0 response Herefordshire Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown not submitted Telford and Wrekin Council 142 58 unknown 14 unknown response Stoke on Trent City Council 2000 118 unknown 35 unknown response Bath and North East Somerset Council 1040 580 28 30 7.1 response Bristol City Council unknown unknown 14 22 57.1 response North Somerset Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response South Gloucestershire Council 322 154 unknown 17 0 response Plymouth City Council 1394 1162 11 12 9.1 response Torbay Borough Council 132 167 unknown unknown unknown response Bournemouth Borough Council 21 64 14 17 21.4 response Poole Borough Council 429 918 23 26 13 response Swindon Borough Council 1238 777 15 19 26.7 response Peterborough City Council 1500 105 20 21 5 response Luton Borough Council 1100 130 6 6.5 8.3 response Southend on Sea Borough Council 250 203 10 10 0 response Thurrock Borough Council 78 21 30 33 10 response Medway Council 1066 1437 9 10 11.1 response Bracknell Forest Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response West Berkshire Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Reading Borough Council 1293 710 unknown unknown unknown response Slough Borough Council 862 302 16 17 6.3 response Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead 410 462 14 17 21.4 response Wokingham Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Milton Keynes Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Brighton and Hove City Council 2770 1608 unknown 26 0 response Portsmouth City Council 1591 939 19 25 31.6 response Southampton City Council 1700 2089 14 17 21.4 response Isle of Wight Council unknown unknown 12 14 16.7 response Durham County Council 1180 835 unknown unknown unknown response Northumberland County Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Cheshire East Council 1553 598 unknown unknown unknown response Cheshire West and Chester Council 1085 800 unknown 15 0 response Shropshire Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Cornwall Council 183 483 24 24 0 response Wiltshire Council 174 123 unknown 23 0 response Bedford Borough Council 310 136 16 18 12.5 response Central Bedfordshire Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Aylesbury Vale District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Chiltern District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response South Bucks District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Wycombe District Council 212 126 11 12 9.1 response Cambridge City Council 179 275 11 13 18.2 response East Cambridgeshire District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Fenland District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Huntingdonshire District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response South Cambridgeshire District Council 32 12 unknown unknown unknown response Council of the Isles of Scilly unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown not submitted Allerdale District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Barrow in Furness Borough Council 729 602 17 17 0 response Carlisle City Council 842 176 15 21 40 response Copeland Borough Council 173 134 11 11 0 response Eden District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response South Lakeland District Council 35 4 52 50 -3.9 response Amber Valley Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Bolsover District Council 70 30 1 1 0 response Chesterfield Borough Council 771 224 1 2 100 response Derbyshire Dales District Council 15 138 2 2 0 response Erewash Borough Council 450 233 9 9 0 response High Peak Borough Council 77 154 unknown unknown unknown response North East Derbyshire District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response South Derbyshire District Council 203 71 6 7 16.7 response East Devon District Council 63 263 16 25 56.3 response Exeter City Council 1431 560 13 20 53.8 response Mid Devon District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response North Devon Council 27 17 17 22 29.4 response South Hams District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Teignbridge District Council 14 7 unknown unknown unknown response Torridge District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response West Devon Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Christchurch Borough Council 430 219 13 15 15.4 response East Dorset District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response North Dorset District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Purbeck District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response West Dorset District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Weymouth and Portland Borough Council 522 335 17 19 11.8 response Eastbourne Borough Council 801 329 unknown unknown unknown response Hastings Borough Council 618 147 9 9 0 response Lewes District Council unknown unknown 12 17 41.7 response Rother District Council 412 382 16 19 18.8 response Wealden District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Basildon District Council 117 218 11 12 9.1 response Braintree District Council 248 274 13 20 53.8 response Brentwood Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Castle Point District Council 134 94 12 16 33.3 response Chelmsford Borough Council 967 415 9 10 11.1 response Colchester Borough Council 957 430 14 20 42.9 response Epping Forest District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Harlow District Council 946 161 13 15 15.4 response Maldon District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Rochford District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Tendring District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Uttlesford District Council 53 70 12 12 0 response Cheltenham Borough Council 750 700 19 unknown unknown response Cotswold District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Forest of Dean District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Gloucester City Council 525 272 10 15 50 response Stroud District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Tewkesbury Borough Council unknown unknown unknown 10 0 response Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council 1004 558 13 15 15.4 response East Hampshire District Council 13 40 40 unknown 0 response Eastleigh Borough Council 499 356 20 32 60 response Fareham Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Gosport Borough Council 993 578 13 15 15.4 response Hart District Council 0 265 unknown unknown unknown response Havant Borough Council 683 524 25 31 24 response New Forest District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Rushmoor Borough Council 372 511 11 12 9.1 response Test Valley Borough Council 483 173 unknown unknown unknown response Winchester City Council 28 51 9 17 88.9 response Broxbourne Borough Council 838 194 unknown unknown unknown response Dacorum Borough Council 451 650 10 16 60 response East Hertfordshire District Council 38 44 8 12 50 response Hertsmere Borough Council 195 185 7 14 100 response North Hertfordshire District Council 886 151 unknown 44 0 response St. Albans District Council 675 395 12 15 25 response Stevenage Borough Council 816 351 11 15 36.4 response Three Rivers District Council 31 68 unknown unknown unknown response Watford Borough Council 1329 146 unknown unknown unknown response Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council 493 293 21 21 0 response Ashford Borough Council 484 350 15 16 6.7 response Canterbury City Council 750 700 12 21 75 response Dartford Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Dover District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Gravesham Borough Council 302 149 9 13 44.4 response Maidstone Borough Council 686 195 9 9 0 response Sevenoaks District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Shepway District Council unknown unknown 10 11 10 response Swale Borough Council 76 79 10 11 10 response Thanet District Council 588 445 9 12 33.3 response Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council 250 47 8 10 25 response Tunbridge Wells Borough Council 525 394 12 15 25 response Burnley Borough Council 314 383 16 20 25 response Chorley Borough Council 152 411 15 16 6.7 response Fylde Borough Council 53 81 10 11 10 response Hyndburn Borough Council 614 511 7 7 0 response Lancaster City Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Pendle Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Preston City Council 561 320 12 20 66.7 response Ribble Valley Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Rossendale Borough Council 71 170 24 25 4.2 response South Ribble Borough Council 210 133 12 12 0 response West Lancashire District Council 45 124 12 13 8.3 response Wyre Borough Council 26 307 29 29 0 response Blaby District Council 11 9 unknown unknown unknown response Charnwood Borough Council 321 185 14 16 14.3 response Harborough District Council 134 142 9 11 22.2 response Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council 141 195 9 10 11.1 response Melton Borough Council 143 83 13 16 23.1 response North West Leicestershire District Council 91 50 9 10 11.1 response Oadby and Wigston Borough Council 350 154 12 14 16.7 response Boston Borough Council 236 106 8 9 12.5 response East Lindsey District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Lincoln City Council 901 243 18 20 11.1 response North Kesteven District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response South Holland District Council 114 50 15 16 6.7 response South Kesteven District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response West Lindsey District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Breckland District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Broadland District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Great Yarmouth Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council 457 46 7 7 0 response North Norfolk District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Norwich City Council 1617 1448 14 16 14.3 response South Norfolk District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Corby Borough Council 39 126 10 12 20 response Daventry District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response East Northamptonshire District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Kettering Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Northampton Borough Council 1614 395 11 12 9.1 response South Northamptonshire District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Wellingborough Borough Council 1040 146 unknown unknown unknown response Craven District Council unknown unknown 13 13 0 response Hambleton District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Harrogate Borough Council 61 151 16 19 18.8 response Richmondshire District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Ryedale District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Scarborough Borough Council 91 189 14 21 50 response Selby District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Ashfield District Council 693 318 unknown 12 0 response Bassetlaw District Council 509 43 9 10 11.1 response Broxtowe Borough Council 414 309 8 10 25 response Gedling Borough Council 56 109 12 14 16.7 response Mansfield District Council 147 71 10 16 60 response Newark and Sherwood District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Rushcliffe Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Cherwell District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Oxford City Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response South Oxfordshire District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Vale of White Horse District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response West Oxfordshire District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Mendip District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Sedgemoor District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response South Somerset District Council 35 49 10 10 0 response Taunton Deane Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response West Somerset District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Cannock Chase District Council 74 187 14 43 207.1 response East Staffordshire Borough Council 562 115 unknown unknown unknown response Lichfield District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council 335 581 18 21 16.7 response South Staffordshire District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Stafford Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Staffordshire Moorlands District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Tamworth Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Babergh District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Forest Heath District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Ipswich Borough Council 2388 276 13 14 7.7 response Mid Suffolk District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response St. Edmundsbury Borough Council 21 66 10 12 20 response Suffolk Coastal District Council 20 20 unknown unknown unknown response Waveney District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Elmbridge Borough Council 745 246 unknown unknown unknown response Epsom and Ewell Borough Council 723 200 22 30 36.4 response Guildford Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Mole Valley District Council 610 255 16 21 31.3 response Reigate and Banstead Borough Council 1028 412 13 14 7.7 response Runnymede Borough Council 373 117 34 55 61.8 response Spelthorne Borough Council 992 396 13 22 69.2 response Surrey Heath Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Tandridge District Council 205 173 17 24 41.2 response Waverley Borough Council 39 33 unknown unknown unknown response Woking Borough Council 753 188 unknown unknown unknown response North Warwickshire Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Rugby Borough Council 322 200 10 10 0 response Stratford on Avon District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Warwick District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Adur District Council 672 319 unknown unknown unknown response Arun District Council 34 76 unknown unknown unknown response Chichester District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Crawley Borough Council 639 371 30 35 16.6 response Horsham District Council 194 46 17 20 17.6 response Mid Sussex District Council 22 23 29 32 10.3 response Worthing Borough Council 987 450 unknown unknown unknown response Bromsgrove District Council 424 381 15 16 6.7 response Malvern Hills District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Redditch Borough Council 765 80 8 14 75 response Worcester City Council 954 155 13 20 53.8 response Wychavon District Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Wyre Forest District Council 294 72 9 20 0 response Bolton Borough Council 924 511 15 16 6.7 response Bury Borough Council 540 399 41 43 4.9 response Manchester City Council unknown unknown 19 20 5.3 response Oldham Borough Council unknown unknown 16 unknown unknown response Rochdale Borough Council 300 276 22 26 18.2 response Salford City Council 603 340 unknown unknown unknown response Stockport Borough Council 93 56 unknown 13 unknown response Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council 761 507 17 18 5.9 response Trafford Borough Council 1500 632 16 18 12.5 response Wigan Borough Council unknown unknown 15 15 0 response Knowsley Borough Council 127 300 8 16 100 response Liverpool City Council 1859 467 unknown 13 0 response St. Helens Borough Council 544 645 unknown unknown unknown response Sefton Borough Council 311 825 14 16 14.3 response Wirral Borough Council 1689 564 12 13 8.3 response Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council 1790 1557 10 12 12 response Doncaster Borough Council 685 376 7 8 14.3 response Rotherham Borough Council 471 202 7 9 28.6 response Sheffield City Council 3114 2411 unknown unknown unknown response Gateshead Borough Council 387 409 9 11 22.2 response Newcastle upon Tyne City Council 2500 850 15 16 6.7 response North Tyneside Borough Council 1781 1515 24 33 37.5 response South Tyneside Borough Council 1347 904 unknown unknown unknown response Sunderland City Council 2775 739 8 9 12.5 response Birmingham City Council 382 231 10 11 10 response Coventry City Council 2413 322 unknown 14 0 response Dudley Borough Council 1262 624 15 15 0 response Sandwell Borough Council 618 224 8 10 25 response Solihull Borough Council 360 62 16 18 12.5 response Walsall Borough Council 203 123 unknown 4 0 response Wolverhampton City Council 1112 120 7p-11 7p-11 0 response Bradford City Council 1500 1800 10 11 10 response Calderdale Borough Council 152 513 10 11 10 response Kirklees Borough Council unknown unknown 3 4 33.3 response Leeds City Council 3492 1853 11 14 27.3 response Wakefield City Council 1800 1020 11 13 18.2 response Common Council of the City of London unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Barking and Dagenham Borough Council 477 337 unknown unknown unknown response Barnet Borough Council 714 294 21 23 9.5 response Bexley Borough Council 1744 120 14 18 28.6 response Brent Borough Council 960 1139 13 30 130.8 response Bromley Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Camden Borough Council 195 945 20 21 5 response Croydon Borough Council 380 375 15 15 0 response Ealing Borough Council 1800 450 33 39 18.2 response Enfield Council 1997 415 23 25 8.7 response Greenwich Borough Council 761 470 24 26 8.3 response Hackney Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Haringey Borough Council 1765 831 17 18 5.9 response Harrow Borough Council 1458 495 13 14 7.7 response Havering Borough Council 942 239 13 unknown 0 response Hillingdon Borough Council 627 262 16-27 16-27 0 response Hounslow Borough Council 1821 1348 20 23 15 response Islington Borough Council 60 259 14 28 100 response Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Kingston upon Thames Borough Council 471 549 23 29 26.1 response Lambeth Borough Council 34 12 8 16 100 response Lewisham Borough Council 894 1658 29 32 10.3 response Merton Borough Council 1220 1307 32 40 25 response Newham Borough Council 517 1046 14 15 7.1 response Redbridge Borough Council 784 361 26 28 7.7 response Richmond upon Thames Borough Council 1995 600 28 33 17.8 response Southwark Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Sutton Borough Council 2400 900 19 22 15.8 response Tower Hamlets Borough Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response Waltham Forest Borough Council 1442 383 unknown 23 unknown response Wandsworth Borough Council 366 1860 6 7 16.7 response Westminster City Council unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown response

• DATA: download the full spreadsheet

More data

Data journalism and data visualisations from the Guardian

World government data

• Search the world's government data with our gateway

Development and aid data

• Search the world's global development data with our gateway

Can you do something with this data?

• Flickr Please post your visualisations and mash-ups on our Flickr group

• Contact us at data@guardian.co.uk

• Get the A-Z of data

• More at the Datastore directory

• Follow us on Twitter

• Like us on Facebook