Thursday 5 January 2012

Government gives Plymouth £790,000 to build 15 new pitches for Travellers

PLYMOUTH has been given £790,000 to build 15 new pitches for Travellers and Gypsies in the city.

Communities Minister Andrew Stunell today announced the successful bids for £60million of funding that will provide hundreds of new authorised pitches as well as new facilities for Travellers on official sites.
This includes £1.2m for 30 new pitches across Cornwall, £1.1m for 15 new pitches in Teignbridge and £790,000 for 15 new pitches in Plymouth.

The Homes and Communities Agency have completed their assessment of bids and have recommended offers from successful councils and other organisations that will deliver over 750 new and improved pitches at a cost of £47m.

New bids for the remaining £13 million of the £60 million budget will continue to be considered and the Agency will help those who had their bids rejected to improve and resubmit their offers so that further pitches can be delivered over the next three years.

This new support for official Traveller pitches goes hand in hand with action against unauthorised Traveller sites. Through the Localism Act, the Government is introducing stronger powers for councils to tackle the abuse of retrospective planning permission. These strengthened powers are helping councils tackle any form of unauthorised development.

Communities Minister Andrew Stunell said: "This funding will help provide sites in a way that reflects local need in consultation with the local community. It will assist hundreds of traveller families find sites where they want to live and foster better relations with the existing communities and councils."

The Plymouth money will go to Devon and Cornwall Housing Association.

In August last year Plymouth City Council approved plans to create 55 new Gypsy and Traveller pitches in the city at three sites - Efford, St Budeaux and Belliver.

Those plans include 15 pitches at Broadley Park Road, on land currently owned by the council.

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