Grown by the community, for the community

At one of the developments we manage, two community allotment areas have become some of the most popular shared facilities on the estate, with both now operating waiting lists due to resident demand.

The most recent allotment opened last summer and has quickly become a valuable community asset, giving residents further opportunity to grow their own produce, spend time outdoors and connect with their neighbours.

As the allotments have grown in popularity, we wanted to ensure they continued to evolve in a way that reflected what residents wanted from them. So, rather than managing every aspect centrally, we recently introduced resident-led management committees for both allotments.

The committees work closely with our team and play an active role in helping shape how the allotments operate, from discussing rules and priorities through to making decisions about the future of the spaces.

Our role is to support that process. We meet with the committees monthly, provide guidance where needed and manage the administrative side, including plot agreements, payment requests and day-to-day management matters.

As Tom Tracy, Estate Manager, explains, “The allotments have become fantastic community spaces. By giving plot holders a greater say in how they're run, we've seen even stronger engagement and ownership from residents. People naturally enjoy helping shape something they're directly involved in.”

The introduction of the committees has also helped strengthen relationships between plot holders, creating a more collaborative and community-led approach to managing the allotments.

Our team knows that estate management isn't always about maintaining physical assets. It's often about creating the right framework for residents to get involved, take ownership and help build stronger communities themselves.