Innovations - Pupils grow food on a developer's land

Shafik Meghji, Regeneration & Renewal, 25 July 2008

Students from Mount St Mary's Catholic High School are growing produce on an allotment within Urban Splash's Saxton development, which overlooks the school and is due to be completed in 2010. The Best in Show scheme, which started in June, will also help the pupils work towards a certificate in personal effectiveness, a qualification equivalent to a grade B GCSE that aims to develop practical skills. Simon Gawthorpe, managing director for Urban Splash Yorkshire, answers our panel's questions.

Q: What is innovative about the project?

A: Building allotments into a new residential development is pretty unusual. We are creating around 35 allotments on the Saxton site, which will be split between existing residents in neighbouring housing and new residents. We started talking to the school about whether they would be interested in taking an allotment on, and they though it seemed like a good way to help pupils with their schoolwork, and promote healthy eating and self-sufficiency. If it does prove successful, we'll look at giving the allotment to the school permanently.

Q: Are the children able to use the allotment outside school hours or do they need to be supervised at all times?

A: The children are supervised at all times, either by a member of Urban Splash's staff or by a teacher. During the summer holidays we will be providing all the supervisors. However, as the building work proceeds, it will be easier for the kids to access the site safely. Ultimately, supervision won't be necessary.

Q: Isn't it difficult to get inner-city kids to take an interest in growing food?

A: Not at all. When the children first came down to the allotment, they were incredibly enthusiastic. There was a lot of interest in the idea. We've provided the pupils with seeds and equipment, and, with all the rain we've been having in Yorkshire over the last few weeks, we should get some good plants, which should hold their attention. At the end of the summer, we'll hold a talk on healthy eating for the children, so they can link in what they've grown with wider issues.

Q: As well as the allotments, Saxton has plans for large landscaped gardens, an orchard and a meadow. Given the scarcity of city centre sites for development and the Government's housebuilding targets, do you think this is an appropriate use of land?

A: Well I think we could have built more houses on the site - have a higher density - but one of the big reasons many people move out of city centres is because of a lack of green spaces. Many city centre developments provide very little outdoor space for residents. We wanted to provide a city centre development with ample green space. For us, it was a quality of life issue and we think we've got the balance right.

THE PANEL

Questions were compiled with help from Andy Cave, community initiatives officer at housing association Helena Housing, and David Barrie, project producer on the Urban Farming Project in Middlesbrough.

Contact us: If you know of an innovative scheme that merits closer scrutiny, email Adam Branson at adam.branson@haymarket.com.