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Following Cabinet approval on 13 October 2020, we held a Regulation 18 consultation on the intention to prepare a Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document between 13 January to 9 March 2021.
The proposed scope of the Gypsy and Travellers DPD is to allocate land for travellers in sustainable locations meeting identified permanent and temporary accommodation needs up to 2036, in line with Government planning policy and legislation. This consultation invited comments on the Plan's scope and our proposed approach to meeting accommodation needs.
We have now prepared a full consultation report which, along with the submitted responses, can be found below.
The outcomes of this consultation will inform the preparation of the draft Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document, which we will then consult on once again.
The proposed scope of the Gypsy and Travellers DPD is to allocate land for travellers in sustainable locations meeting identified permanent and temporary accommodation needs up to 2036, in line with Government planning policy and legislation.
At this stage we were seeking comments on the Plan's scope and our proposed approach to meeting accommodation needs.
To view the consultation document, please use the link below:
The 2021 Local Development Scheme states that a Gypsies and Traveller Plan will be developed by the Council. The purpose of the Plan is to identify accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers and travelling showpeople; and to identify sites to meet this need. It will cover the period to 2036. Adoption of the Plan is anticipated for quarter 2 2023.
A key piece of evidence informing the Plan, as well as decisions on planning applications that may come forward, is the Wiltshire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA). The GTAA identifies permanent and temporary accommodation needs for gypsies and travellers and travelling show people over a period of around 15 years in line with the Government's Planning policy for traveller sites. The March 2022 GTAA updates and supersedes the previous GTAA dated June 2020.
The Wiltshire Core Strategy as part of the development plan for Wiltshire remains the starting point in determining planning applications for traveller sites. Core Policy 47 in the Core Strategy sets out the Council's strategy for meeting accommodation needs and determining planning applications.
However, the 2020 Wiltshire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment published below can be a material consideration in determining planning applications for traveller sites.
The 1985 Housing Act (as amended) requires Councils to periodically assess the accommodation needs of persons residing in caravans and houseboats within their district. Planning Policy for Traveller Sites requires Councils to undertake their own assessment of accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers and travelling showpeople; and to identify sites in their Local Plan to meet identified need.
Related Information
Private land supply has been consistently poor despite a Call for Sites which remains open to date. Interested landowners can register sites with the council for consideration and assessment, if you have a site which you would like to be considered as part of this process please visit the SHLAA section our Monitoring and evidence page and use the call for sites form or contact the Spatial Planning Team directly spatialplanningpolicy@wiltshire.gov.uk.
Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS) paragraph 10a states that local planning authorities should identify and update annually, a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide 5 years' worth of sites against their locally set targets. This Statement provides a 2018-based 5 year land supply position consistent with PPTS, for each Housing Market Area in Wiltshire.
Wiltshire Council undertook a survey amongst residential boaters on the Kennet and Avon Canal in the summer of 2017. The purpose of the survey was to improve information on the accommodation needs of boaters. The below report will form part of the evidence base for the Wiltshire Local Plan which is now underway and scheduled to conclude in 2023, as set out in the 2020 Local Development Scheme.
