Why have an allotment?

Growing your own fruit and vegetables is a great way of exercising and staying healthy, meeting new people and getting involved in your community and it could save you money too.

Allotments also help to protect the environment. They can be a habitat for wildlife such as birds, insects and small animals, and the use of practices including composting and rainwater harvesting are encouraged. The use of hosepipes is not allowed on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council owned allotments.

Renting an allotment in Basingstoke

If you are 18 or over and live in Basingstoke and Deane you can apply for one of our allotments.

Allotment sizes

Allotment plots can vary in size but as a guide a full plot is 250 square metres (10 rods) and a half plot is 125 square metres (5 rods).

Cost

The annual costs for 2023/24 are:

• OAP rate (over 60s) - first allotment plot - £1.17 per 10m² (additional plots charged at the standard rate)
• Standard rate - £2.33 per 10m².

For example:

• A 250m² (10 rod) allotment plot = £58.25
• A 125m² (5 rod) allotment plot = £29.13

Pay for an allotment

Waiting list

We currently have a very long waiting list and you could be waiting between four to five years for an allotment plot on the majority of sites.

At the following sites it is estimated that based on turnover the waiting time is currently 10 years or more:

• Abbey Road
• Bach Close
• Beggarwood Lane
• Bermuda Close
• Burgess Road
• Carpenters Down
• Eastrop
• Hatch Warren
• Haydn Road
• Marnel Park
• Pitcairn Close
• Quilter Road
• West Ham Close

Applicants who have been waiting the longest are the first to be offered a vacant plot. This may not always be the site that they have originally chosen - it depends on where the vacancies are. Applicants are entitled to refuse an offer if it is not their preferred site without prejudice to any future offers.

It is also important to note that even if an applicant is at the top of the list for their preferred site, the plot may be offered to another applicant, if they are in the same postal district and have been waiting longer. This policy ensures priority is always given to those who have been waiting the longest.

How do I find out where I am on the waiting list?

Following your application for an allotment, please only contact us again if you wish to be removed from the waiting list or your contact details change.

When you reach the top of the waiting list and an allotment becomes available you will be contacted.

How do I apply?

If you wish to apply for an allotment plot in one of the 42 sites in the Basingstoke area, you can complete the online form

Due to the length of the current waiting list, if you already have an allotment in Basingstoke we can't accept any further applications from you. In addition, we are only accepting new applications from one person per household.

Following your application for an allotment, please only contact us again if you wish to be removed from the waiting list or your contact details change.

When you reach the top of the waiting list and an allotment becomes available you will be contacted.

What happens when I am offered a plot?

When you reach the top of the waiting list and qualify for an allotment you will be contacted. Arrangements will be made for the Site Representative to show you the plot on offer. Once you have seen the plot and have confirmed you wish to accept the offer a letter will be sent out to you enclosing a tenancy agreement for you to sign and return. You will also be advised in the letter what you need to pay and how to make payment.

What happens once I have paid/how do I obtain a key?

There is a £20 deposit for the allotment key. There are two payment options:

• Online (select miscellaneous payments and from the list Allotments/key deposit charge) or
• By phone 01256 844844 (quote allotment key reference code B60017/CO71 , your allotment site and plot no.)

Once payment has been made please email allotments@basingstoke.gov.uk to let us know and you would like to arrange collection from Eastrop Allotment Trading Shed. You will be contacted with a collection time.

Eastrop Allotment Trading Shed in Eastrop Allotments, Eastrop Way, Basingstoke RG21 4QD (Opposite Eastrop Park and adjacent to the YMCA).

Ill health or death of a plot holder

When a plot is given up because of ill health or death, a member of the family living at the same address has the right to take over tenancy of the plot. If there is a registered co-worker (a person who assists a tenant) who has been registered for longer than the next qualifying applicant on the waiting list, they can also apply and expect to take over the tenancy.

If the tenant has unfortunately died, the family should contact the council as soon as possible and within a 30-day period. After this 30-day period has passed, the council may re-let the allotment.

Allotment sites in rural areas

We only manage allotment sites in Basingstoke. If you live in the rural areas, you should contact your parish council to see if there are any allotment plots closer to you. For contact details for your parish council, please visit our webpage - Parish and Town Councils.

We are aware that there may be other allotment sites within Basingstoke and Deane some run by local organisations, including charities and it is worth looking at community magazines or information boards in your area to find out where they might be.

Apply for an allotment

Allotment sites in Basingstoke

The list below shows the allotment sites across Basingstoke and the number of plots on each site

Total number of plots in Basingstoke 1143