The owner of a site in Combe Down which has been used as allotments for more than 100 years is looking to sell it for £1.4 million, it has been revealed.
The allotments in Combe Down, which the council leases
Bath & North East Somerset Council, which leases the site, was notified of the owner’s intention to end the lease of the land last year, with allotment holders being told they had to vacate their plots by 31st October 2025.
The council says it has been committed to remaining on the site so that the long history of food growing and allotments at Combe Down can continue.
It is supportive of the allotment holders, however, the local authority said the landowner has consistently refused to meet and find a mutually beneficial solution.
Currently, there are 64 allotments on the land off St Winifred’s Drive, however, the landowner gave warning of his intention to end the lease this November.
Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for sustainable Bath & North East Somerset, said: “Since we were informed of the landowner’s intention to end the lease the council has looked into all available avenues, under the statutory provisions it has, to retain the land for allotments.
“This included exploring any acquisition powers for the site.
“Running alongside this, we have made repeated requests to meet the landowner to find a mutually beneficial solution. All requests to meet have, to date, been declined through his solicitor.
“We have also made a reasonable offer to purchase the site following a professional evaluation. However, the landowner has rejected this and has put a £1.4 million price tag on the plot.
“Another option we have been exploring is a new site but we would not meet the November deadline. So, as you can see we have been trying to find a way through, however as it currently stands allotment holders will have to be prepared for the outcome no one wants.
“In the meantime we will look at holding vacant plots at other sites, which Combe Down allotment holders could possibly have first refusal on.”
There is no timeframe over which the obligation for an allotment site must be satisfied.
Combe Down allotments site is listed in the council’s Assets of Community Value following a successful nomination by a group of residents.
The application, from the Unincorporated Friends of Combe Down Allotments, was assessed by the council and found to meet or exceed all criteria needed to be added to the list.
Although the owner of an Asset of Community Value (ACV) is free to sell to any buyer of their choice, they cannot dispose of it without:
- Waiting until the end of a six-week ‘interim moratorium’ period in which community interest groups or any other buyers can request that the council treat them as a potential bidder;
- Waiting until the end of a six-month ‘full moratorium’ period if the council does receive such a request.
