Introduction
Under the allotments legislative framework, (Community Empowerment 2015 (Scotland) Act, Part 9: Allotments), all Scottish local authorities have a duty to prepare and publish an annual report on allotments.
Provision of allotments in North Ayrshire
The Act defines an allotment as land owned or leased by the local authority and used, at least mainly, for growing vegetables, fruit, herbs or flowers, without a view to making a profit.
An allotment site is land consisting wholly or partly of allotments and includes other land, which is owned or leased by the local authority, which may be used in connection with the use of the allotments.
North Ayrshire Council has four allotment associations / organisations who lease and occupy council land:
- Eglinton Growers – Irvine Road, Kilwinning, KA13 7PZ
- Garnock Valley Allotment Association - 34 Sersley Drive, Kilbirnie, KA25 6EY
- Organic Growers of Fairlie - Fairlie Community Garden, Pier Road, Fairlie, KA29 0AP
- Three Towns Growers - Elm Park, Ardrossan, KA22 7BJ
North Ayrshire Council does not directly manage any of the allotment sites. All aspects of the allocation, management and maintenance of the allotments are the responsibility of the respective allotment organisations / associations and their tenants. However, the council’s Connected Communities service liaises directly with the allotment groups, and the Streetscene service monitors and administers the council’s dedicated allotments mailbox for all allotment related enquiries.
Part 9, Section 111 and 112 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 sets out the duties to maintain a waiting list and to provide allotments if trigger points of demand are reached.
In 2025, the allotment sites across North Ayrshire have a combined total of 640 allotment plots (of varying sizes), including polytunnel and raised beds. North Ayrshire Council is aware of a collective total of 32 individuals awaiting allocation of an allotment plot, with no individual being on a waiting list for five or more years.
This is below the statutory 50% ratio between waiting lists and plot numbers across North Ayrshire which is the trigger threshold that would require the council to take action and consider new allotment provision.
The legislation requires the council to keep a waiting list and take reasonable steps to identify new allotment sites if demand increases and waiting lists become longer. All four of the existing sites are fully occupied with three having a waiting list.
Annual reporting measures
Part 9, Section 121 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 sets out specific measures that are to be included in the Allotments Annual report. The four allotment associations / organisations who lease land from North Ayrshire Council have worked in partnership with the Council to provide the information required to enable the annual allotments report to be prepared.
The annual measures for 2025 are provided in Table below.
| Item | Information required | Eglinton Growers | Garnock Valley Allotment Association | Organic Growers of Fairlie | Three Towns Growers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A (part 1) | Site location | Irvine Road, Kilwinning, KA13 7PZ | 34 Sersley Drive, Kilbirnie, KA25 6EY | Fairlie Community Garden, Pier Road, Fairlie, KA29 0AP | Elm Park, Ardrossan, KA22 7BJ |
| A (part 2) | Site size | 3.77 ha. | 1.28 ha. | 1.01 ha. | 1.63 ha. |
| B | Number of plots | 106 plots (all occupied)16 raised beds | 50 plots (all occupied). Plus 46 polytunnel beds for individual rent. 11 raised beds for local community and primary school | 315 (all occupied), 181 outdoor raised beds. 134 polytunnel raised beds. | 50 (all occupied). Plus 20 raised beds in communal poly tunnel, and 26 raised beds outside. |
| C | % of site not subleased | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| D | Number of plots let directly to growers | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| E | Sites leased by the council | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| F | Lease period to association | 25 years (until 31/12/2047) | 25 years (until 28/02/2045) | Yearly basis lease | 20 years (until 30/09/2039) |
| G | Rent payable to NAC | £1 (if asked) | £1 (if asked) | £1 (if asked) | £1 (if asked) |
| H | Plot rents (£) | large plot £75.00, medium plot £37.50, small plot £25.00, raised bed £10.00 | £35 per member per year.£12.50 per polytunnel bed. | £50 for a large raised bed and £25 for a small raised bed | £30 for 10 x10, £60 for 20 x10 |
| I | How rents are decided | Voted for at annual general meeting (AGM). | By the members at annual general meeting (AGM). | By committee. | Decided at annual general meeting (AGM). |
| J | Waiting list numbers | 0 | 1 | 20 | 11 |
| K | Number of people on waiting list for 5 or more years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| L | Steps taken by Council to reduce waiting lists | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| M | Number of plots accessible to a disabled person | 0 | 0 | 12 | 40 |
| N | Number of plots adjusted by NAC to meet needs of disabled persons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| O | Number of people applying for adapted plot or for adjustment | 0 | 0 - although on occasion members make a request to move to a raised bed. | 1 | Three Towns Growers board and members, plot holders and volunteers have assisted ASN plot holders with adaption when required. |
| P | (Part 1 ) Income received and (Part 2) expenditure incurred (by NAC) | (Part 1) £1 (Part 2) Nil | (Part 1) £1 (Part 2) Nil | (Part 1) £1 (Part 2) Nil | (Part 1) £1 (Part 2) Nil |
| Q | Any other Business prescribed by Scottish Government | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |