Advice on garden planning

Hi I'm new to growing.
I've just finished cutting back the brambles on my new allotment plot and am looking at designing the goal layout of the plot.

I am in Cornwall England, hardiness zone 9a. My plot has little to no shade so I've decided to re orient my shed to form some shade to sit in. I am trying to feed two adults on a budget, bonus if I can share extra and would like my plot to also be visually interesting and a nice place to be.
I would also like to use this plot to work on some of the SKIP projects, although tall hugely type structures aren't allowed. I have to ask permission to add sheds, poly tunnels, greenhouses, trees and ponds.

How do you decide on a garden layout?
Can you see any problems with my initial idea sketches?
Beds are the greyed out zones

Edited to add dimensions: plot is 9.7 by 12.6 meters my initial designs are based on 4ft main paths 2 foot small paths and 4 ft beds

Photos of the plots current condition included

Hey Natalie, that's a good-sized plot you have there! How exciting!! I like your design, the only thing I would add is to think about how shade/sun will work as the sun moves across the sky (planting taller things so they don't shade out the littler ones, etc). Other than that, looks great and I look forward to seeing how it all grows up for you!! If you're in 9a, you should be able to start some things right away, are you getting any rain?

Tereza Okava wrote:Hey Natalie, that's a good-sized plot you have there! How exciting!! I like your design, the only thing I would add is to think about how shade/sun will work as the sun moves across the sky (planting taller things so they don't shade out the littler ones, etc). Other than that, looks great and I look forward to seeing how it all grows up for you!! If you're in 9a, you should be able to start some things right away, are you getting any rain?

Sadly we are currently in a drought there are some potato plants from the previous plot holder that are holding on but everything I've put in the ground while clearing has just not germinated at all from how dry it is.

Unfortunately this year is a hard one, I think I'd be trying to start things in the house, if possible, it has to let up at some point and then you can put them in the ground. I have a friend up in northern Wales (a bit south of Mold) and the pictures she's sent me are jaw-dropping (and i was there a few years ago in 'the hottest august ever recorded'.... at this point everything is a record).

Stay cool and good luck!

Cornwall 9a is honestly a great base to work from. Given the drought, worth leaning toward things that handle a bit of stress once established, courgettes, squash, and most legumes tend to cope. Lettuce will just bolt the second it gets warm and dry so maybe save that for autumn.