Luton Borough Council

Allotments

Allotment gardening provides a wide range of benefits to communities and the environment. Growing your own food, getting your hands in the soil and being part of a community of food growers has immense personal benefits. Luton has thirteen allotment sites spread across the town.

The council runs seven of the sites in the town which you can see below:

The following allotments are run by associations (committees formed by plot-holders)

Applying for an allotment

Please read the tabs below for information regarding taking on an allotment. Having an allotment is an enriching experience but it is important to consider all the aspects involved in managing an allotment before applying. The current cost for allotments is £9.50 per pole per year. A ‘pole’ is a unit of measurement equivalent to a fraction over 5m. Most of our plots are around 8 poles, though you can request smaller plots. We also charge an initial admin fee of £25 which covers your key.

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Considerations before applying for an allotment

Taking on a new allotment can be a rewarding experience, but there are several factors to consider before committing. Here are some key points to think about:

Time commitment
Maintaining an allotment requires regular attention, including weeding, watering, planting, and harvesting. Allotments demand an average of an hour per day over the course of a year. Consider whether this is realistic for you
Plot size
Think about the work involved above and how much time you realistically have to maintain this over a plot. Think about asking for a smaller plot if you do not have lots of time.
Cost
Compared to almost any other hobby, having an allotment is comparatively very cheap but there are annual tenancy fees which will vary but are usually between £50 and £100 per year. There is also the cost of seeds, tools and any other equipment you might use. Items such as sheds will incur additional cost.
Experience
If you have no prior gardening experience, have you looked into the kind of work and skills required to maintain an allotment? Could you join a community garden first to see if this is something you really do enjoy or to pick up necessary skills? Or could you team up with family members to support your allotment work?
Long term commitment
Allotments are often long-term projects that require consistent effort year after year. Consider whether you are willing to make this commitment, especially as your personal circumstances may change.
Physical demands
Gardening can be physically demanding. Assess your physical fitness and any limitations, as some tasks, like digging and carrying heavy loads, can be strenuous.
Tools and storage
Not all sites have access to storage on site so you may need to transport tools or create your own storage on site in line with the ‘Conditions of Use’
Waste
Consider how you will use the waste such as weeds, redundant equipment or materials such as bamboo canes etc. It is not acceptable to leave waste on the site so you will need to consider composting and removing any non-compostable waste to your domestic bins or one of our waste recycling centres.
Terms of use
In the tab below is our terms of use. Have a read before applying to check that you are happy with these parameters before applying.
Environmental impact
Consider sustainable practices such as composting, using organic seeds, and minimizing chemical use. Being eco-friendly can enhance the health of your plot and the surrounding environment.

Our tenancy agreement and conditions of use

Below is the template for our tenancy agreement and conditions of use on LBC-run sites. Associations will have their own tenancy agreements which may vary in some details.

Tenancy agreement and conditions of use

Before you start

To apply for an allotment in Luton you must meet the following eligibility and read the notices below:

allotments can only be allocated to individual residents living in Luton
they cannot be offered to companies and are not transferable within a family
There is a waiting list for all allotment sites which is managed in date order
we will contact you when a vacancy occurs
please do not ask us how long you will have to wait as this is impossible to know
we cannot predict when allotments are vacated
you will automatically be allocated an allotment at the site nearest your address
the larger allotment sites are managed by an association, which is a group of volunteers running the day-to-day aspects of the site
if you are offered an allotment at one of these sites, you have to join the association, abide by any regulations they may have and pay their annual subscription as well as the allotment rent
all allotments are governed by a standard tenancy agreement, the terms of which are non-negotiable
in the case of an association run site, the tenancy is with the association, not the Council, but the terms are otherwise the same

Please use the button below to apply for an allotment in Luton.

Apply for an allotment

If you have any other queries around allotments please email [email protected].

Volunteering and community gardening

If you're waiting for an allotment and would be interested in working with others on community gardening projects, or in our parks, then please see our volunteering page.

There you'll find information on projects around the town which you can get involved in. If you have any questions or to get involved, please email: [email protected].

Contact information

Parks and allotments
Wardown Park
Old Bedford Road
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU2 7HA
T: 01582 546000
E: [email protected]