Manchester council says it is committed to creating a 'community asset' after a court order granted it possession of land which had been turned into a community farm.
Rosehill Community Farm and Garden (RCF) had leased the land, in Northenden, from the council in 2011 and transformed it from a disused allotment site. The project, which was formally opened in 2012, was designed as an open-air green facility for the community, providing services such as training in horticulture to reduce older people’s isolation and increase job prospects for young and unemployed people.
However, the council brought a case to court this year after RCF breached the terms of the lease for 'failing to use the site as a community garden'. The council was granted possession of the land, on Shawcross Lane, at a County Court hearing in May. The lease with RCF has formally ended, with a court costs order also granted in the council’s favour.
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Despite more recent access requests to the directors, council officers were unable to enter the site until early 2021. The possession order gives the council unfettered access for the first time in many years.
Following the case, a council spokesperson said: "The council has been granted possession of the former Rosehill Community Farm site and the intention will be to ensure that it is brought back into constructive use.
“Work is underway to consider how the site can be used in the future - with a commitment to creating a community asset for local people."
Kevin Reveley, 63, was the only director representing RCF in court. The other directors resigned on March 31, 2023.
The community farm had received cash grants totalling £23,430 from the council during the period from 2011 to 2014. It had also been granted nearly £300,000 of funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to develop the site and provide training and skills opportunities. A further grant of £474 was provided by the High Sheriff’s Police Trust Fund.
A spokesperson for the National Lottery Community Fund said: “We would always be disappointed to hear communities are no longer able to enjoy a project we’ve funded. Between 2011 and 2016 we awarded Rosehill Community Farm and Garden £282,833 across five projects …. their final grant ended as planned in 2017 and we conducted our usual robust checks.
“We were satisfied that the money was used as intended, and the way in which the project was delivered and completed. There have been no further grants since.”
Manchester City Council added: “The Council is aware that assets have been removed from the site. However, it should be noted that the property removed from the site did not belong to the council and therefore this was not part of the legal process to gain possession of the land.
“Following the hearing that secured immediate possession of the land, the council has since made the site secure and will now carry out a site condition survey.”
Rosehill Community Farm and Garden was incorporated in July 2011 as a private company limited by guarantee. Profits were to be retained in the business and not distributed. The most recent published accounts for the financial year to 31 July 2021 show a loss of £27,349.
An application to strike the company off the Register of Companies was made on 29 May.
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