Teddington allotments face closure as burial space runs short

Teddington allotments at Shacklegate Lane, the last community growing space in this corner of the borough, will close on October 1 unless Richmond Council pauses its conversion plans. Campaigners say there is a way to address the burial shortage without losing all the plots, and they have put forward alternatives that would keep at least part of the green fingers in the soil.

Richmond Council plans to convert the allotments to meet a projected shortage of burial space across the borough.

What campaigners are proposing

Two solutions are on the table.

The first is a partial conversion: keep some allotment plots while creating burial space on the remainder of the site. The second is grave reuse, a practice already in place in other London boroughs where older graves that have been unused for decades are carefully repurposed for new interments. Both options, campaigners say, would address the burial shortage without erasing the last opportunity for local residents to grow their own food and flowers in Teddington. The proposals have been presented to the council in recent weeks, but no formal response has been issued ahead of the planned closure date.

The campaigners are not opposing burial provision, they are asking for a solution that serves both needs.

Why this site matters to the community

These are the last allotments in Teddington.

For decades, Shacklegate Lane has been where residents without gardens could still grow tomatoes, runner beans, dahlias, and everything in between. It is a quiet community anchor, especially for older plot holders and those in flats nearby who value the access to green space and the rhythm of the growing year. Losing it removes not just the plots themselves but the informal network of knowledge sharing, seed swapping, and neighborly conversation that comes with a well-used allotment site. The council’s rationale is straightforward: burial space is finite, and projections show demand rising across Richmond. But for those who tend the beds at Shacklegate Lane, the question is whether it has to be an either-or decision.

A place that feeds people and a place that honors them need not be incompatible.

How we got here

2026

Richmond Council identifies shortage of burial space across the borough

2026

Shacklegate Lane allotments selected for conversion to burial ground

September 2026

Campaigners propose partial conversion and grave reuse as alternatives

October 1, 2026

Scheduled closure date for Shacklegate Lane allotments

Shacklegate Lane itself runs parallel to the cemetery and has long been a quiet residential street where walkers, cyclists, and allotment holders cross paths. The plots are visible from the pavement, and over the years they have become part of the local landscape, a reminder that even in built-up Teddington, there is still room to dig.

What happens next

October 1 is the scheduled closure date.

Unless the council agrees to delay the conversion, plot holders will need to clear their tools, structures, and remaining crops by then. No extension has been confirmed at the time of writing, and no public consultation on the alternative proposals has been announced. Campaigners are urging residents to contact their local councillors and to attend upcoming council meetings where burial provision and green space policy may be discussed. The timeline is tight, but decisions at this level can shift when community voice is clear and consistent.

If you have used the allotments, or simply value the principle of keeping growing space available in the borough, this is the week to make that known.

What this means for you

If you hold a plot at Shacklegate Lane, you need to clear your site by October 1 unless the council announces a delay. If you live nearby and value the allotments, contact your ward councillors before the closure date to express support for the alternative proposals. You can find councillor contact details on the Richmond Council website under the ‘Your Councillors’ section. If you are interested in the broader question of burial provision and green space policy, watch for upcoming council meetings on planning and environment, which are listed in the council’s public meeting calendar. Written representations can be submitted ahead of these meetings, and residents are entitled to attend and speak during public comment periods. This is a decision that affects both immediate plot holders and the longer principle of how the borough balances competing land use, so your voice carries weight whether you garden there or simply walk past.

The closure date is days away, but the conversation about how Richmond manages its land for the living and the dead is far from over. If you care about keeping some growing space in Teddington, now is the time to say so.

The allotments sit beside Teddington Cemetery on Shacklegate Lane, a quiet road where many residents have walked past the vegetable beds for years. The closure date is October 1, less than a week away, which is why the final plea has arrived now.

Frequently asked questions

When do the Shacklegate Lane allotments close?

The scheduled closure date is October 1, 2026. Plot holders are expected to clear their sites by that date unless Richmond Council announces a delay.

Why is the council closing the allotments?

Richmond Council plans to convert the site to burial ground to address a projected shortage of burial space across the borough. The council has not yet confirmed whether it will consider the alternative proposals put forward by campaigners.

What are the alternatives being proposed?

Campaigners have suggested two options: a partial conversion that would preserve some allotment plots while creating burial space on part of the site, and grave reuse, a practice used in other boroughs where older, unused graves are repurposed for new interments.

Are there other allotments in Teddington?

No. Shacklegate Lane is the last allotment site in Teddington. Other allotment sites exist elsewhere in the borough, but waiting lists are typically long.

How can I support the campaign to save the allotments?

Contact your local ward councillors before October 1 to express your views, and consider attending upcoming council meetings where burial and green space policy may be discussed. Written submissions to the council are also accepted and become part of the public record.

Useful resources

• Richmond Council: Planning and environment