Plans for allotment sites at new homes

New housing developments in the Black Country could soon be built with their own allotments as popularity for growing fruit and vegetables grows.

The demand for allotments across the region has rocketed with waiting lists of hundreds of people for places at most councils. Walsall Housing Group (WHG) is responsible for more than 20,000 homes.

It could now create community gardens at its rising number of new developments if a pilot scheme proves a success.

Its scheme is being watched by other housing groups both in the West Midlands and across the country.

WHG is currently transforming a plot of disused land bordered by St Giles Road, Tyler Road and William Harper Road in Willenhall.

It will feature a hedgerow of raspberry plants, apple and damson trees and a children's natural play area with willow tunnels and tree trunk climbing frame.

The area will give tenants and youngsters the opportunity to grow their own fruit and vegetables, and could help ease demand for allotments in the area.

Plans have been submitted to Walsall Council and are expected to be considered next month.

If successful the housing provider says it would have similar areas across the borough. The move comes after a petition was handed to WHG signed by about 140 local residents which called for action to be taken on the overgrown site.

Paul Mason, WHG's regeneration programme manager, said: "The new Government talks about a society where local communities have more say in their surroundings and I think this is a great example of putting that theory into practice."

The new allotments would be leased from WHG and managed by a number of tenants who have formed the St Giles' community garden project group.