The Growing Trend…Housing Developers Digging to Attract New Buyers
By Garden Expert @markloveday
The ongoing lockdown and pandemic have created a growing trend! Many of us are longing for more outdoor and garden space, even for some it led to flocking out of urban areas and making the move to greener pastures.
Growing your own vegetables, fruit and herbs but also ornamental gardens has gained rapid popularity. With a lot of us locked in our properties during the pandemic – the solace of the garden and allotment has never been so sought after and appreciated.
Whether it’s the yearning of the outdoors, a reconnection to our food or celebrity endorsements, like Jamie Oliver, a demand for outdoor space has never been so high.
This increase in demand has not gone unnoticed – property developers all over the UK have taken onboard this opportunity and are including communal growing spaces for encourage would-be residents.
One such development is the Salt Cross garden village near Oxford. Where Grosvenor developers are planning 200 allotment plots alongside 2,220 homes planned for 2023.
Urban developments are too being given the green treatment – in London’s Kings Road Park, on the site of an old gasworks in Fulham, ‘Grow Gardens’ will be supplied to residents in the 1,847-home development. And on a site in Elephant and Castle, where 2689 homes will be designed with grow gardens.
But it seems the demand for growing produce at home began well before the pandemic. It has only snowballed as residents place a premium on outdoor space.
‘People have become more interested in growing home-grown products’
Estate agent, James Hyman from Cluttons, says’ People have become more interested in growing home-grown products’
A recent study by the Public Sector Excellence found that 90% of councils were reporting an increase in demand for allotments. With long waiting lists and limited availability, the future is not as green as we would like!
Some allotment stats:
70% of councils said people on waiting lists can expect a wait for 18months or more!’
65% drop in land set aside allotments since 1960’s – people are eager and demand for home-growing is building up’
It seems that free spaces are being snapped up, younger people in their 20’s have been among those keen to get involved. With this trend looking to continue growing and spring around the corner, what does the future hold of our nation of would-be gardeners?
Do you have an allotment or growing space? We would love to hear from you!
