Allotment rents in Bristol set to increase but by less than previously planned

A smaller rent hike is now on the table after a public backlash against "excessive" proposed increases

Allotment rents in Bristol could soon increase but by less than was previously planned after a public backlash. Bristol City Council initially proposed a steep increase in rents, prompting opposition from allotment holders who said the hike would be too high.

Annual rent for a small plot size of 75 to 149 square metres, the most common type in Bristol, will increase from £50 to either £66 without water or £76 with water. The original plan was to increase these rents to £79 without water or £89 with water, which sparked heavy criticism.

Councillors on the public health and communities policy committee will be asked to approve the plan on Friday, October 11. If they do, the rents would increase in October next year. But the last time the committee met, they threw out a controversial plan to hike the rents by much more.

A committee report said: “Taking into account the consultation responses, amended proposals have been developed and proposed that directly respond to the concerns raised through the consultation and help mitigate the perceived impacts of the original proposals.”

A half price discount would be extended to anybody receiving universal credit or pension credit. Community food-growing groups are offered a half price discount too, if they “make a positive social value contribution to disadvantaged groups”.

The higher rents are estimated to bring in an extra £116,000 to the council a year, part of which will pay for a new allotment officer who will be tasked with improving services for tenants.

In the longer term the council will explore changing the pricing system, which is currently set in bands. Instead, tenants could be charged using a rate based on the square metre size of their plot.

The committee last met in August, when they decided not to go ahead with the original plan. They heard from several allotment holders, who criticised the initially proposed increases as excessive and arbitrary, warning that some might have to give up their plot.