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Call for right to grow food on unused public land

Kumail JafferLocal Democracy Reporting Service
Tanya Vora Kalpana Arias, a woman with long dark hair and a fringe, speaking into a microphone with both hands in front of a gold curtain backdropTanya Vora
Kalpana Arias says a Right to Grow policy would improve food security

Campaigners have called on City Hall to introduce a London-wide "Right to Grow" framework to help communities turn unused public land into food gardens.

Several councils, including Hounslow, Southwark and Hackney, have already introduced the policy to turn wasteland into allotments, community gardens and orchards.

However, the Greater London Authority (GLA) is now being urged to develop a standardised model for all 32 boroughs and the City of London.

A new report from the London People's Assembly on Food, Nature and the Right to Grow outlines 12 demands to make the capital "greener and more edible" by 2035. City Hall said it was increasing access to green spaces.

These include dedicated community growing officers in every borough and embedding food growing into future health and planning strategies.

Campaigners say demand for growing space heavily exceeds supply.

At least 30,500 Londoners are on allotment waiting lists, with 16 boroughs closed to new applicants, according to a 2023 Freedom of Information request published by Greenpeace.

In Camden, waiting times can reach up to 12 years. In Islington, there are just 106 allotment plots available for around 17,000 households without garden access.

A side-by-side comparison showing a messy pile of overgrown branches and garden waste on the left, and the same narrow space transformed into a neat, cleared soil border with young green plants on the right.
A soil border along an alleyway in Isleworth was turned into a flowerbed under Hounslow's Right to Grow scheme

Kalpana Arias, one of those behind the Right to Grow Campaign, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that backing the policy would be an "easy win" for City Hall.

"We want the GLA to implement Right to Grow within its food and housing policies so it's easier for boroughs to sign on to the framework," she said.

"We have a lot of ambition, but institutions need to match that and get rid of the red tape that's still there. We need to strengthen biodiversity and improve food security within London.

"We're never going to make London completely food independent, but we're looking to shed a light on the fact that the capital imports 94% of their food."

Tanya Vora Mete Coban speaking into a microphone next to a large blue and white presentation screen that reads "The Right to Grow London People's Assembly".Tanya Vora
The deputy mayor for the environment addressed a People's Assembly meeting

Deputy mayor for environment Mete Coban said increasing access to green space was "a matter of social and environmental justice".

He highlighted that City Hall had planted 640,000 trees and was empowering communities to transform areas through the mayor's £12m Green Roots Fund.

"The benefits of nature should be for everyone and we are committed to making this the reality as we build a greener, healthier and more resilient London for everyone," he added.

City Hall did not confirm whether they would draw up a Right to Grow framework.

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