The Gypsy and Travellers Site Allocations DPD will take a strategic approach to assist in meeting current and future accommodation needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople across Wiltshire.
Revised Timetable
This timetable is provisional due to the evolving local and national policy context within which this work is being undertaken and may be subject to further amendment in response to any changes proposed in the Localism Bill.
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
|
Issues & General Approach Report (Consultation and Consider Responses) |
Apr-Oct 2010 |
| Review overall level of site provision | Oct - Dec 2010 |
| Assess sites and develop policy options | Jan –Mar 2011 |
| Draft DPD prepared (including consultation) | Spring 2011 |
|
Review consultation feedback and produce pre-submission draft of the Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations DPD |
Summer 2011 |
| Pre-Submission consultation | Autumn 2011 |
| Examination & Inspectors Report | Spring/Summer 2012 |
| Adoption | tbc |
What has happened so far?
Wiltshire Council recently consulted on the first stage in the preparation of the Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations DPD. The consultation document was called the Issues and General Approach Report and the consultation ran from 6 April until 4 June 2010.
Since the close of the consultation officers have been collating responses and working with our appointed consultants CDN Planning to revise and up-date the Issues and General Approach report. A factual report of the consultation is now available to download below and a revised ‘Issues and General Approach’ report will be available shortly.
Some of the issues raised by a number of respondents are summarised below.
- A number of respondents challenged the Circular definition of Gypsy and Traveller included in the report as it seemed to exclude new travellers and boaters which were specific types of Traveller in Wiltshire that should be recognised.
- There was a lack of confidence in the amount of new accommodation being provided especially as they were taken from the draft RSS which was likely to be revoked.
- There were questions about providing access to employment and the need to provide for business uses within new sites.
- There was a real sense from many respondents that Gypsy and Travellers should be treated in the same way as everyone else when looking for a home.
- There was a difference of opinion not necessarily in relation to the need for sites to have access to facilities but in relation to acceptable distances to facilities.
- There was support for the approach taken and criteria within the methodology from a number of agencies, for example, Environment Agency and Highways Agency.
- There were concerns about how new sites would impact on local communities and the local environment with comments suggesting that small (<5 pitches), private, family run sites would have less impact on the local area and encourage integration.
What is the next stage in the production of the DPD?
The next stage is to use the information that has been gathered, including all the comments submitted during the consultation, and develop policy and site options for allocation. The objective of this stage will be to:
- Confirm criteria based policies for the location of Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites in Wiltshire.
- Assess site options for the allocation of new sites. This involves preparing a list of candidate sites that will be tested to assess whether they are suitable to consider for allocation.
- Develop policies in relation to site management, appropriate site size, the expansion of existing sites and on site facilities (parking standards, amenity standards etc)
The next stage will culminate in a report on the options considered and an indication of the preferred policies to take forward into the DPD which will be subject to consultation.
What are the implications of a changing national policy context?
The original timetable envisaged a consultation on policy options to be included in a draft Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations DPD during September and October 2010. However, there has been uncertainty about the status of the draft South West Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) since 27 May 2010 when the coalition government stated its intention to abolish Regional Strategies and return decision making powers on housing to local councils. This statement has been challenged through the High Courts and the latest position (November 2010) appears to be that the draft RSS should, given its advanced stage of preparation, be treated as a material consideration again. Furthermore, on the 29th August 2010 the Government announced its intention to revoke Circulars 01/2006 (Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites) and 04\2007 (Planning for Travelling Showpeople) to be replaced with light-touch guidance outlining the council’s statutory obligations.
Wiltshire Council's recent consultation on the issues and general approach to the provision of suitable and sustainable locations for future Traveller sites used the pitch requirements set out in the draft South West Regional Spatial Strategy as its basis in terms of future need for new pitches for the period 2006 - 2011. It also used advice contained in the Circulars.
In light of the current issues in Wiltshire surrounding unauthorised encampments and lack of alternative sites it is proposed that the work started by the issues and general approach consultation should continue in order to meet an existing need for this sector of our community. Elements of the consultation that relate to a clear, consistent and open methodology for assessing new sites remain relevant and urgently needed.
A revised programme has, therefore, been developed to allow time to review the level of site provision appropriate in Wiltshire should the draft RSS and Circulars 01/06 and 04/07 be revoked.
Consultation documents
Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach April 2010.pdf 430kb- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Feedback Form.pdf 37kb
Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Feedback Form.DOC 58kb- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Call for Sites Form.pdf 37kb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Call for Sites Form.DOC 75kb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Leaflet.pdf 408kb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Exhibition Posters.pdf 1.9mb
- Gypsy and Travellers DPD Issues and General Approach Flyer.pdf 154kb
Audio File
An audio file to accompany the consultation is available to download and listen to below.
Wiltshire Council Gypsy and Travellers Exhibition boards
- Context 143kb
- Steps in policy development 29kb
- The facts 242kb
- Identifying the issues 51kb
- Finding new sites 91kb
- Call for sites 136kb
- Contact us 72kb
Background documents
- Wiltshire and Swindon Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment 2006 - Final Report.pdf 1.4mb
- Wiltshire and Swindon Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment 2006 Executive Summary.pdf 49kb
- North Wiltshire Gypsy and Traveller Issues and Options Consultation May 2008.pdf 1.3mb
Contact Details (LiveLink)
Multiple Contacts:
eMail: spatialplanningpolicy@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 01225 713223
Out of hours:
Fax:
Postal Address:
Spatial Planning Team
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Bythesea
Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14
8JN
In Person:
DX:
Last updated: 14 March 2011
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