Planning for Gypsies and Travellers: how to make sure Councils get it right

From the Travellers' Times

EVERY local authority has to produce a local plan in order to set out policies for different types of development in their area. These documents are written by planning officers and normally include a policy for the provision of Gypsy, Traveller and Showpeople sites (although some councils will produce a specific ‘development plan document’ for the provision of such sites).

National Government policy sets out the various considerations that should be taken into account by local plan policies. For example, pitches should be provided on sites in locations which enable Gypsies and Travellers to have access to health and education.

Importantly, councils must ensure that that they include a target for the number of pitches needed. This figure will be taken from a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment. It is essential that councils make a robust and accurate assessment of the needs of Gypsies and Travellers because this informs them how many pitches will need to be provided / permitted.

However, many councils are failing to assess the needs of Gypsies and Travellers properly. Common problems include not taking into account the needs of Gypsies and Travellers in housing, the need for transit sites or simply not recording the need for additional pitches accurately. There are three practical steps that Gypsies and Travellers or Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and others representing the interests of Gypsies and Travellers can take in order to ensure that these figures are accurate:

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