What a lot of waiting: The UK’s growing allotment waiting lists

Easy access to a green space is proven to benefit mental well-being, but with 1 in 8 British households having no garden, many face missing out on this essential contact with nature. Enter allotments, council-owned patches of land you can rent and tend to, offering that much-needed time outdoors for those with no or limited garden space. 

However, despite their bountiful upsides, a new study from our gardening experts at Dino Decking has uncovered that spare allotments are few and far between, with many people on allotment waiting lists for years until they are offered a space. With thousands waitlisted, our team is sharing advice on how to create the feel of a garden when you don’t have direct access to one.

What are allotments, and why are they so in demand?

Allotments are small plots of land rented from local councils or private landlords, typically used to grow fruit, vegetables, and flowers. They’re a longstanding part of British culture, offering people a chance to enjoy outdoor space, grow their own food, and connect with nature. These are especially important for those without their own garden.

In recent years, demand for allotments has surged. With rising urbanisation, more people are living in flats or homes without gardens, while the cost-of-living crisis has made growing food at home an appealing way to save money. At the same time, the mental health benefits of gardening (especially since the Covid lockdowns) have become more widely recognised, driving even more interest.

These green spaces offer far more than just soil and seeds; they represent a lifestyle shift towards sustainability, well-being, and self-sufficiency.

Thousands of Brits are in the queue for an allotment

After issuing FOI requests to local councils across the UK on their current allotment waitlist, we uncovered a growing list of 108,958 people waiting for allotment plots across the country. While the number of those on waitlists was widespread, we found that some areas saw far higher demand.

Portsmouth City Council topped the rankings with the highest number of residents on its allotment waiting list. The waterfront city reported a staggering 7420 people waiting for an allotment plot, accounting for 1 in 25 of the city’s adult population. 

Edinburgh came in second, with 6,846 people currently waiting for an allotment space in the Scottish capital. Bristol was a close third, with 6,846 waiting on its list. 

The London Borough of Lewisham had just shy of 4,000 people waiting for an allotment, while Wakefield had 3,687.

Areas with the highest allotment waiting lists

Council borough	Region	Waiting list size
Portsmouth City Council	South East England	7,420
City of Edinburgh	Scotland	6,846
Bristol City Council	South West England	6,466
London Borough of Lewisham	London	3,918
Wakefield City Metropolitan District Council	Yorkshire and the Humber	3,687

The regions with the longest waiting list

In terms of regions, South East England had the greatest demand for allotments, with 20,901 people on a list for an allotment, accounting for 19% of all those waitlisted in the UK. These eye-watering figures are over double that of the second most populous waiting list. 

As the most inhabited region in the country, it isn’t hard to see why people here may be eager for an outdoor space to call their own, with 21% of London households having no garden, compared with 12% across the rest of the UK. The North West and South West ranked second and third, respectively, each accounting for 1 in 10 of all waitlisted individuals across the UK.

Rank	Region	Total Count
1	South East England	20,901
2	North West England	10,413
3	South West England	10,440
4	Scotland	12,263
5	Yorkshire and the Humber	8,494

How long are allotment waiting lists?

At the moment, as of May 2025, the average wait time for an allotment is 4 years. 

And, if nearly half a decade wasn’t long enough, some locations saw residents waiting over twice as long as the national average. West Dunbartonshire, Scotland and the London Borough of Haringey topped the rankings of councils with the lengthiest waiting lists, with an average wait of 9 years. Lewisham, Bolsover and East Riding all have 8-year-long waitlists, placing them joint second.

Council	Waitlist in years	Total Count
West Dunbartonshire	9 years	20,901
London Borough of Haringey	9 years	10,413
London Borough of Lewisham	8 years	10,440
Bolsover District Council	8 years	12,263
East Riding of Yorkshire Council	8 years	8,494

Councils with the lowest number of people on their waiting lists

While some councils have lengthy weighting lists, there are a handful that have under a few dozen people waiting for an allotment. 

Those living in the Arun District Council, West Sussex, can look forward to joining a waitlist of zero as the council currently has nobody waiting for an allotment space. 

Blaby District Council, Leicestershire, ranked as the authority with the second smallest waiting list, with just three people in line for an allotment space. Angus Council, Scotland, doubled Blaby’s waitlist but still had a manageable six people waiting for an allotment plot.

Council	Number of people on the waiting list
Arun District Council	0
Blaby District Council	3
Angus Council	6
North Devon District Council	8
Orkney Islands Council	13

What can be done about the long allotment waiting lists?

It’s clear that the current demand for allotments far exceeds supply. So, what can be done?

1. Councils prioritising new plots

Local authorities can review underused land and brownfield sites for potential allotment development. Some councils have already begun converting spare land into temporary or permanent plots to ease pressure.

2. Policy and funding support

 Greater government support—both funding and planning incentives—could encourage councils to expand allotment provision. Community gardening schemes and urban agriculture projects could also receive more backing.

3. Allotment sharing and rotation

In areas with high demand, schemes that encourage plot sharing, crop rotation across smaller groups, or seasonal use could help more people access space, even if only part-time.

4. Embracing alternative solutions

In the meantime, residents can explore community gardens, rooftop gardening projects, or container gardening at home as temporary alternatives while waiting for a full allotment plot. We’ve put together some tips on how to maximise your outdoor space.

How to maximise your outdoor space

If you already have access to an outdoor space that isn’t quite the botanical escape you would like (think concreted front yards, gardens covered in composite decking and gravelled patios), there are still ways to create an area you enjoy. We’ve broken down some of our top tips below:

Create a vertical garden 

Lacking floor space doesn’t mean you can’t still inject some greenery outdoors. A vertical garden is a perfect opportunity to inject a splash of nature outside, even when you are low on floor space. 

To create your vertical garden, try adding some hanging baskets to an external wall and fill them with blooms like petunias and geraniums. You can also make use of climbing plants like sweet peas and clematis to add a lush texture to walls and fences.

Utilise potted plants 

Due to their versatility, potted plants are a great way to get the feel of a garden even when you are limited on outdoor space. When selecting your vegetation, try to select plants of varying heights to create a layered, fuller look. Make the most of the space you have, and don’t hold back on filling the area with larger pots to create a luscious look.

Use screens to add depth

An outdoor screen can help elevate your garden, upgrading a drab concrete wall into a feature. In areas where there is enough space, using a screen can also be a fabulous way to create zones, sectioning off your dining alfresco set up from your plants or even creating a reading corner.

Mirrors

You might not expect to see a mirror in a garden, but it’s a classic trick to create a sense of depth and light. Position it opposite greenery to reflect the plants and make the area feel more open and plush.

Create a focal point

Whether it’s through a statement wall or a corner rich in flowers, creating a focal point that draws the eye will give your space a curated feel.

Read more on our blog 6 small garden decking ideas.

Tips for creating the feel of a garden if you don’t have one

Even if you live in a property with no access to external space, there are still plenty of clever ways to bring that tranquil garden escape indoors. 

Line window sills

Plants and humans alike love sunlight, so lining your windowsills with indoor plants will give you a new, refreshing view while creating the perfect environment for plants to thrive. Cacti, succulents and rubber plants are the perfect additions to your indoor habitat. 

Try indoor bulbs for colour

Bulbs aren’t just for the outdoors; flowers like daffodils and hyacinths can be ‘forced’ into blooming indoors. While this process may take some time, having the bright colour of flowers, alongside their uplifting scent, can create a calming environment in your home.

Make use of botanical wallpapers

Bring the great outdoors inside with a botanical wallpaper. These can make the perfect backdrop for rooms with limited light (for growing plants) or to enhance your existing indoor foliage. 

Plant a terrarium

Terrariums are their own mini ecosystems and can be an ideal project for smaller homes. Made with just a few simple tools, this low-maintenance garden needs only moss, soil, some tiny plants and a glass jar for a year-round garden in a container. 

Methodology

Data was gathered from FOI requests issued to the UK’s local councils requesting the number of individuals currently on waiting lists for allotments in their jurisdiction. This study is compiled from the 175 councils that responded.