Facing financial pressures, HungerHill Developments LTD (HDL) was unable to continue managing the historic St Ann's Allotments. Nottingham City Council took over direct control on February 1, 2025, after a consultation revealed HDL's financial struggles. The council aims to ensure the long-term preservation of this treasured site, providing stability for tenants and working closely with gardeners to enhance this historically significant space.
A historic and vast Nottingham allotment site, one of the largest in the world, has changed hands due to growing financial pressures. Nottingham City Council has officially taken back direct control of the St Ann's Allotments , which provides over 600 allotment gardens to local people. The city council became the sprawling green space's landlord again on February 1, 2025, following a consultation which found HungerHill Developments LTD (HDL) could not continue operating the Grade II-listed site.
The allotments had been managed by HDL, a subsidy of The Renewal Trust charity, since 2008, after it was specifically established to secure £4.5 million in Heritage Lottery funding in order to restore the site. \A decision notice, published by the Nottingham City Council, explained cost rises and income shortages meant HDL could no longer manage the green space. 'Due to financial pressures in recent years on HDL, post-pandemic and alongside the national financial crisis, cost increases and a shortfall of income have resulted in operating budget pressures for HDL,' a representative wrote. 'HDL were invited to propose the financial terms that would be acceptable for them to continue to operate and to prepare a new business plan to manage the site, which would deliver a balanced budget without financial support from NCC.' In response, HDL told the council it would break its lease with the city council on July 23, 2024. A number of alternative options were suggested by Nottingham City Council, such as finding a new third party to take over and the council finding additional funds to sustain the existing contract with HDL. However, the third option of insourcing the site was chosen as they reviewed HDL's current budget for the site, which included unnecessary duplications and additional payments. Councillor Sam Lux, executive member for carbon reduction & culture at the city council, said: 'In 2007, the lease for St Ann's Allotments was sub-let to Hungerhill Developments Ltd (HDL) for 30 years, but this was surrendered in July 2024 after months of discussion and negotiation. On February 1, 2025, Nottingham City Council took over as the direct landlord for all tenants. 'St Ann’s Allotments is a protected and cherished site, protected under the Allotment Acts, as an Asset of Community Value and as a Grade II* listed English Heritage site, and will continue to serve as allotments. This decision secures the long-term preservation of St Ann’s Allotments and provides stability for tenants and other users. 'We look forward to working closely with gardeners to understand how we can best look after and enhance this treasured space, which holds so much historic significance and cultural value for the city.' As part of the transition, staff will be transferred over to Nottingham City Council if they want to continue working at the allotments. The council has been the leaseholder of the land since 1551. In 1978 the city council renewed its 100-year lease for the majority of the land used by the allotments, which is owned by the Bridge Estate, a council charity that maintains Trent Bridge
ALLOTMENTS NOTTINGHAM CITY COUNCIL HISTORIC SITE FINANCIAL PRESSURES LANDLORD ST ANN's
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