Hackney residents can now claim land for growing

Hackney Council has launched its Right to Grow scheme, a new pilot giving residents the opportunity to repurpose council land into community growing spaces for fruit, vegetables, herbs and flowers.

Groups of five or more residents, including informal groups such as neighbours, can now apply. 

Potential sites include unused land around council buildings, alongside roads, or vacant green spaces (not including Hackney’s parks). Groups will need to seek the Council’s permission before using a site, so it can be assessed whether the land is eligible and suitable for growing.

The scheme forms part of the Mayor’s 'Who Owns Hackney' campaign, an investigation into land use and ownership, which aims to make more space available for community use. 

As well as opening up access to land, the initiative will support more local food growing, helping create a more resilient, lower carbon food system while giving residents greater access to fresh, healthy produce, as well as the social and wellbeing benefits that come with spending more time outdoors.

The Council already supports community growing on its housing estates, with more than 50 groups involved in community gardening and food growing projects.

Hackney’s launch also joins a wider Right to Grow movement, supported by organisations including Hackney Right to Grow and Incredible Edible, which campaigns for communities to have greater access to land for food growing. 

It’s free to apply, but as a community-led scheme, groups will be responsible for the costs of creating and maintaining their garden. Organisations such as Hackney Right to Grow and Capital Growth can provide support with identifying suitable growing spaces, equipment, training and advice. 

Up to ten applications will be approved in the first phase of the pilot, with further rounds to follow. 

To apply, groups will need to provide details of their proposed site, an outline of their growing plans and information about who will look after the space. Applicants must send this information to landwaterair@hackney.gov.uk 

“Hackney’s Right to Grow is a huge step forward in making more land available for community use. By giving local groups the chance to transform these underutilised spaces, we’re helping residents grow food, connect with their neighbours and have more of a stake in where they live. 

“We’ve already got some fantastic growing projects on our council estates, and now this scheme will give more residents the opportunity to turn a patch of under-loved land into somewhere the whole community can enjoy.”

Cllr Jacob Cable, Cabinet Member for Climate, Clean Air, Energy and Transport

To find out more, visit the council’s Right to Grow page.