Call for London-wide right to grow food on unused public land

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.