Date published: 2026-11-04 | Category: Bath
Following a decision by a private landowner to give Bath & North East Somerset Council notice to leave Combe Down Allotments efforts to secure the site are continuing.
A report before Bath & North East Somerset Council’s cabinet is seeking approval in principle for the potential future use of statutory powers - if efforts to acquire the necessary land and access rights by agreement are ultimately unsuccessful.
The council has been seeking to acquire land by agreement to provide a new allotment site. It has made a series of formal offers to the landowner, but an agreement has not so far been reached.
The former allotment site in Church Road served the Combe Down community for more than 130 years. The private landowner served notice on the council in September 2024 requiring it to vacate the site by 30 November 2025, and the site has been vacant since then.
Councillor Paul Roper cabinet member for Economic & Cultural Sustainable Development, said: “Our preference always has been and remains one where we reach an agreement that enables allotment provision to be restored at Combe Down without the need to use statutory powers, these would be a last resort. What we want to do at this stage is simply keep that option available while negotiations continue, so that we have a route forward if all reasonable efforts to reach an agreement are exhausted.
“The former allotments served this community for generations and there is clear continuing demand for allotment plots. We want to find a practical way of providing allotments again while continuing constructive discussions with those involved.”
If cabinet approves the recommendations, officers will continue negotiations and undertake the due diligence and preparatory work required should statutory powers need to be considered. Any decision would have to come back to cabinet in a further report.
Cabinet meets on Thursday November 12, to find the report go to our website and to watch the cabinet meeting go to our Youtube channel.
Ends
Notes to editors
The former Combe Down allotment site was used as allotment gardens for more than 130 years.
The site is privately owned and has been vacant since 30 November 2025.
The council has a statutory duty under section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 to provide sufficient allotments where it considers there is demand.
There continues to be demand for allotments with 532 people currently waiting for plots across the district. A questionnaire involving former Combe Down plot holders and people on the site's waiting list also recorded 84 expressions of interest in taking a tenancy at a new allotment site.
The land being considered is shown only indicatively at this stage. The precise land and access rights involved could change following further investigation and negotiation.