Community food growing

SE3: Community food growing 1. The council will support community food growing by: a) Protecting existing spaces for community gardens, allotments and orchards. b) Enabling new provision of community gardens, allotments and orchards; and c) Requiring all new developments, where 50 to 99 dwellings are proposed to include a 150m2 plot of land for the provision of community food growing. d) Requiring all new developments, where 100 dwellings or more are proposed to include a 300m2 plot of land for community food growing. 2. Developers should ensure that community food growing spaces provide the utility infrastructure to support food growing including water and storage facilities. 7.462 The NPPF supports community food growing by recognising allotments and community food production as valued forms of green space and encouraging their provision and protection. 7.463 This aligns with the NPPF by promoting healthy, inclusive places that support good health and encourage social interaction. These spaces create opportunities for people to connect, including those who might not typically engage with one another. 7.464 Community food growing supports Buckinghamshire Council’s Whole Systems Approach to a Healthy Weight by fostering healthier local food environments. It also aligns with Buckinghamshire’s Healthy Ageing Strategy 2024-2029, helping to reduce social isolation and loneliness. 7.465 Community food growing opportunities provide residents with access to spaces to grow food. Community food gardens are local spaces where residents or community groups come together to grow food. Allotments are small plots of land let to individuals for food growing purposes. The provision and conservation of parish and council-owned allotments are protected under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 and the Allotments Act 1925 as amended by subsequent legislation. Community orchards are places for people to come together to plant and cultivate fruit trees or nut trees. 7.466 Community food growing opportunities support residents’ physical and mental health, provide access to healthy food and green spaces, with opportunities to be active, meet others and participate in society. These spaces support social cohesion and inter-generational interactions by enabling and bringing people together from diverse backgrounds and ages, around a common interest. They provide relief for households on food costs and often donate surplus food to local charities. These spaces can support knowledge and skill development in food production, distribution, preparation and waste, and support cooking initiatives and educational opportunities for residents, schools and colleges. 7.467 Community food growing can increase biodiversity, turn barren spaces into green productive areas and provide opportunities to regenerate derelict or underused urban spaces into high quality, safe, social public spaces. Applications should be supported by a management plan demonstrating how the community food growing space will be managed and maintained. 7.468 Community food growing sites require utility infrastructure such as access to a water supply, storage facilities and composting. Sites can be made more accessible in different ways by ensuring toilet facilities, seating and shelter from the elements are provided.