The company running the St Ann’s allotments says it will be handing the site back to Nottingham City Council.
Hungerhill Developments Limited (HDL) currently leases the site in St Ann’s from the council, and runs 670 allotment gardens spread across three plots known as Hungerhill Gardens, Stonepit Coppice and Gorsey Close.
The company, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Renewal Trust charity, was incorporated in 2007 and took over the running of the Grade II listed allotments in 2008.
HDL says cuts to subsidy from the council and rising costs have “proven too hard to overcome”.
“We have been in lengthy discussions with Nottingham City Council but have been unable to reach a positive conclusion with no assurances of funding after March 2025,” HDL said in a statement.
Responding councillor Sam Lux, executive member for leisure and culture at the council, said: “St Ann’s allotments is an important site within the city and we understand its value both for Nottingham and to allotment holders. We’re also very aware of the great work which has been done in maintaining and updating the plots over recent years.
“The council has been working with Hungerhill Developments to identify how the subsidy that we provide can be reduced, in line with wider budget pressures facing the authority.
“We will continue working closely with the group to ensure the transfer takes place smoothly.”
HDL had previously been criticised by several allotment tenants, who claim it has been mismanaging the site.
In July last year, two tenants claimed they had been unfairly evicted.
Management was described as “draconian”, however HDL denied evicting people unfairly.
Gisella Sobarasua was one of the tenants to have been evicted for allegedly fly-tipping rubbish. She denies this and says no process was in place for her to challenge the eviction.
“I will be celebrating,” she said of the site being handed back to the council.
“They kept putting the rents up. It is about time and it’s long overdue.
“The site should be run by the people, by the tenants.”
Created in the 1830s, the site remains one of the oldest and largest collections of Victorian detached town gardens in the UK and Europe, with plots spread over 75 acres.
Over the last 10 years much of the site has been restored, including the building of an allotment centre in 2013 at a cost of £321,000.
Roughly £4.5 million has been invested in the site with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund, East Midlands Development Agency, European Regional Development Fund and the city council.
HDL Director and Renewal Trust CEO, Cherry Wells, added: “We have worked with many partners and especially the gardeners to bring a derelict site back from the brink, have ensured its future protection through a Grade 2* Historic England listing, registered it as an Asset of Community Value and secured over £5 million of external investment.
“It has been a privilege to work with partners and tenants to recover, restore, conserve and manage the site so successfully. We now very sadly return the site to the landowners having successfully achieved the restoration of the site.
“Thank you to all the gardeners who have put mammoth efforts into their own gardens, have shared ideas and suggestions and motivated others. We will leave the City Council with a clear roadmap to follow to maintain the space with the same care and vigilance for the future and a community of gardeners who are dedicated to the site.”
