Use this page for updates on Combe Down allotments.
Currently there are 64 allotments on the land off Church Lane, Combe Down, which we lease from a private landowner. There have been allotments on this site for nearly 100 years.
In 2024 the landowner gave us informal advance warning of his intention to end the lease in 2025. Since then we have been working to resolve this situation. We signalled willingness to engage with the landowner as well as our commitment to remain on the site so that the long history of food growing and allotments afforded to the community of Combe Down can continue.
This is a complex legal situation which the council is doing its very best to resolve.
Latest news
October 2025
Allotment holders have been kept up-to-date with leaving arrangements. Following the allotment holders’ move we will install temporary barriers to prevent unauthorised access/encampments on the site until it is handed back to the landowner.
September 2025
Allotment holders are receiving letters this week (commencing 15 September), setting out our formal legal position and an update on the site.
June 2025
We have made repeated requests to secure the site following the owner’s intention to end the lease of the land. We are committed to remaining on the site and supportive of the allotment holders, however the landowner has consistently refused to meet and find a mutually beneficial solution.
Councillor Sarah Warren, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Sustainable B&NES, 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 as an Asset of Community Value following a successful nomination by a group of residents.
We assessed the application from the Unincorporated Friends of Combe Down Allotments and found it met or exceeded 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 treats them as a potential bidder
- Waiting until the end of a six month ‘full moratorium’ period if the council does receive such a request
October 2024
The landowner has served notice on us to vacate his land in Combe Down.
We are now serving notice on allotment holders to vacate their plots by October 2025. Find out more on our Newsroom.
Earlier this year we had been given informal advance notice of the landowner’s intention to serve formal notice to terminate our lease, but at that time no dates were given and the information was non-binding. Since then, discussions have been ongoing between us and the landowner to ensure we can remain in occupation, including the possibility of purchasing the site.
Now a solicitor’s letter from the landowner to us says we must vacate the land at Combe Down by November 30 2025. We have informed allotment holders.
We are in negotiations to purchase the land and we are also exploring alternative sites. It will continue to work with the allotment holders, however there is no specific timeframe over which the obligation for the provision of an alternative allotment site must be satisfied.
August 2024
Combe Down allotments were registered as an Asset of Community Value on 14 August 2024. This means that although the landowner 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 we treats them as a potential bidder
- waiting until the end of a six month ‘full moratorium’ period if we do receive such a request
Read the full press release here.
Previous action taken
- Engaged solicitors
- Explored the statutory provisions the council has to retain the land for allotments. This included exploring any acquisition powers for the site.
- Requested meetings with the landowner to understand why he intends to serve notice.
- Informed allotment holders and the community of Combe Down
- Written to the landowner’s solicitor reminding them of the statutory obligations of the landowner under the various Allotment Acts (including the statutory notice period with respect to termination)
- The Leader, Cabinet Member and Ward Councillors held a meeting with the community While this is a complex legal matter we will keep this page updated as regularly as possible.
- We have also set up a dedicated email address for you to contact us combedown_projects@bathnes.gov.uk