The government’s decision to approve 59 applications by councils to sell allotment sites to make way for development was slammed by opponents yesterday.

Figures released under freedom of information laws show that Communities Secretary Eric Pickles refused just two applications from the 83 submitted between 2010 and 2013.

A further 10 applications are still awaiting a decision and 12 have been withdrawn.

Local authorities are required by law to receive the Secretary of State’s approval to sell allotment land.

Guidelines from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) say councils must provide allotment holders who are displaced with alternative arrangements, ideally “within three-quarters of a mile” of the existing site.

Shadow communities secretary Hilary Benn said: “These are the green lungs of our communities and growing your own salad and vegetables is a good way of getting exercise, keeping costs down and helping family budgets. That’s why they need to be protected.”

National Allotment Society chairman Allan Rees added that the government keeps complaining that there is going to be a food shortage in 20 or 30 years but then take all the land that people are growing on for development.