Almost 800 more people have an allotment tenancy in Cambridge than in 2009 (up 56%). The city’s population is up 23% and the provision of allotments is up by only 8%. So we are cramming more people onto smaller plots, while still failing to meet demand: the overall waiting list has grown by 129%.

The current policy of providing 1 acre allotments per 1000 new residents (in urban extensions only) has led to a 12% decrease in pro rata provision in the city.

The current policy I believe derives from around 2000 when the city had roughly 100,000 residents and 100 acres of allotments, so 1 acre/1000 seemed a reasonable target then.

Since demand continues to outstrip supply, I suggest that a new higher target level of provision should be included in the plan, in order to account for:
1. Current unmet demand
2. New demand from new residents, especially in dense housing developments
3. Likely growth in demand amongst all resident in the face of the climate emergency, possible food shortages and so on.
The new higher target level of allotment provision should apply also to the new developments outside the city.

It would be useful to map demand in the city, to inform the location of new provision in the fringes, which could be shared between new and existing residents, to maintain some target level of provision.