Management of allotments for wider community use

Millbrook Parish Council has been approached by LiveWest with a proposal to manage the allotments on the new development, with the idea of making them available to the whole Millbrook community. Below is the related communication we have had so far with Anthony Eke, Head of Region from LiveWest:

Planning Application Link

March 2026

MPC email to LiveWest – 24/03/2026
Could you tell me what the plans are regarding the management of the allotments please. Do LiveWest plan to initiate a tenants association to manage the allotments?

LiveWest response – 24/03/2026
The intent at present is that the allotments will be managed and let through LiveWest. However, this may change through the build through consultation.

August 2026

Email from LiveWest 10/08/2026
I would welcome a conversation over the management of the allotments.  I have been consulting internally with our community connectors and asset teams and would be keen to explore whether this could be managed by the Parish?

MPC response 10/08/2026
I shall feed this back to my members but there would need to be consideration of the administration costs.  I don’t recall any previous discussions regarding the Parish Council managing the allotments.  How many allotments are there?

Further information from LiveWest 28/08/2026
“If you could raise with your members it would be most appreciated. We would have expected some financial consideration should this approach be taken.
In terms of specification, it is provided on the attached plan with the following commentary: Allotments divided into 8no.half size allotments bound by 1.2m high post rail and rabbit mesh fencing with 1.2m wide access gate into allotment area”
We currently do not propose to install a water supply, but appreciate this may be a condition of yours. As such, we would welcome your thoughts.”

September 2026

MPC email sent 01/09/2026
Please could you tell me when you would need a response on the allotments and also could you elaborate on the financial contribution please?
Do LiveWest manage allotments in other areas?

LiveWest response 02/09/2026
No immediate rush on a response.  We would just need to re-submit the management plan ahead of the allotments being commissioned.  So we have a bit of time, but it would be ideal to be able to decide by the end of the year.
In terms of a capital contribution, it is normal for a managing entity to propose a payment sum to allow for the initial set up of the amenity (i.e. costs of any required equipment and set up of a management system).  The expectation being that, once set up, the costs will be recovered from annual fees charges to tenants of each allotment.  I believe Cornwall Council have out-sourced the management of publicly owned allotments to parishes, so hopefully you should be able to gain some operational information for others?
We do manage allotments in other areas, but often where they are offered only to our tenants, which is not what we feel is the right approach here.

Further LiveWest response 03/09/2026 (previous consultation evidence)
LM39 18/12/21 “This looks great and what the village needs. The other inclusions as well as homes such as community allotment and green space are very complimentary….”
LM55 19/12/21 “… Only reservations: green field site but orchard, allotments and amenity site will help mitigate that…”
LM58 20/12/21 “… Allotments are a brilliant idea…”
LM67 21/12/21 “The proposed plan looks good. A few queries: Who will manage the green/vegetation areas on the site, once established? Will the allotments be available to all parishioners?…”
LM85 14/01/22 “… I really like and support all the proposals for community involvement and green space use as detailed such as the community allotment…”
LM23 17/12/21 “.. Maybe consideration should be given to focusing the development in a smaller portion of the site with SUDs features, orchard, allotments, other landscaping and biodiversity features wrapping around it to the east and south…”
LM33 18/12/21 “…My own garden is very small, too small for my boys to play in or to grow vegetables and dry washing. If more of the local environment is to be built on, adding allotments, bigger gardens, wildlife zones, trees/orchards and wetland ponds as well as recreational areas becomes increasingly important….”
LM49 18/12/21 “…And yes to a community Orchard and allotments, with public open spaces, for recreation…”
LM13 17/12/21 “… while an inordinate amount of people locally have to use food banks. I presume that’s why you are planning allotments?..?