New Local Plan - Issues & Options (Regulation 18)
25. Accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers
25.1 The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS, 2015) requires local authorities in producing their local plans to set targets for pitches for gypsies and travellers and plots for travelling show people. Local authorities are also required to find sites for the next 5 years against the target and sites or broad locations for at least the next 10 years.
25.2 The most recent evidence in relation to the housing needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople was published in May 2017. An updated Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) is likely to be needed to identify the current and future need for pitches and plots. The Council may need to identify new sites to meet any identified need and would welcome the submission of potential sites for gypsy and traveller accommodation through the Call for Sites process (see Section 8).
25.3 Once the GTAA evidence has been updated, the Local Plan will need to find sites to accommodate any identified need for gypsy and traveller pitches.
Accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers
Question 50: How can the Council find sites to accommodate the need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches:
- Allocate sites for gypsy and traveller pitches as part of new employment land or housing developments?
- Regularise existing unauthorised sites?
- Extend existing sites?
- Create a new district or county council owned site?
- Other (please explain).