The expected benefits of this Action are diverse according to the manifold aspects of the research. The Action's primary objectives are:
- The expansion of the knowledge base in social integration by studying the relationships of different social, cultural and ethnic groups and their related gardening practices in allotments or community gardens,
- The expansion of the knowledge about the ecological function of Allotment Gardens by studying the role/impacts of Allotment Gardens in the urban green network such as habitat connection, provision of ecosystem services, biodiversity, water cycle, micro-climate regulation, etc.
- Improvement of knowledge about the integration of Allotment Gardens in relation to urban morphology, spatial distribution over urban territories and their spatial impacts, measuring how Allotment Gardens are situated within the urban infrastructure network and understanding the gardens’ typology, the ways that they are positioned within the tissue of the cities,
- Maintaining integrated approaches in urban development by the identification of municipal/national development and planning policies that are supportive of or against of Allotment Gardens functions such as restrictions concerning use, design, cultivation and maintenance, property rights to build/own seasonal Allotment Gardens, land use zoning, etc.
In addition to the contribution to ecological, societal and sustainable development needs of Allotment Gardens and scientific needs, a second important objective is to disseminate knowledge, specifically as outputs of the Action.
Among these outputs is the formulation of new policies and guidelines to deal with Allotment Gardens under a typology of cases in European cities. The typology of cases provides a picture of Europe in terms of Allotment Gardens from South, East, and Central European countries to North Europe, however, the COST Action TU1201 aims to involve more countries, especially those where such practices are not so common.