Common Ground’s
Rules for Local Distinctiveness

Eastleigh Allotments, Hampshire

In 2002, 3 allotment sites in Eastleigh, Hampshire were allocated for housing the Local Plan, as part of town centre redevelopment, which would lead to a loss of 62% of the borough’s allotment land, and displacing 226 plot-holders. The replacement sites were unacceptable due to remoteness and distance from the centre of demand, poor soil and motorway noise. There were 15,500 initial objections, raised in the campaign lead by the Eastleigh & Bishopstoke Allotment Association. Despite this the housing allocation remained in the Local Plan although the allotments now had better protection and would require consent before they could be disposed of. Eastleigh Borough Council put in an application to build houses on two of the sites.

Campaigners say “In May 2004 the Council made an application to dispose of South Street and Monks Way allotments. Deputy Prime Minister, Mr John Prescott, ordered a second Public Inquiry in response to the Association’s fierce opposition to the disposal of these allotment sites. This second Public Inquiry (the first Section 8 Public Inquiry for around 10 years) was to establish whether the necessary criteria for disposal could be satisfied. Held over 6 days in April 2005, the Association put up 5 expert witnesses to present evidence challenging the Council’s ability to satisfy the necessary criteria and advocating a refusal of permission for the disposal of these allotment sites. The outcome of this Public Inquiry is still awaited (as of January 2006).”

The decision by the Secretary of State was to grant Eastleigh Borough Council consent to dispose of the allotment sites. In 2007 the campaign reached the High Court with a challenge of the Secretary of State's decision, without success. While foreseeing a “looming crisis” in waiting lists for allotments in Eastleigh if the Council persists with its plans to dispose of the allotment sites, the court refused permission to proceed to Judicial Review of the decision.