BASE HEADER

No

ID sylw: 108736

Derbyniwyd: 19/03/2025

Ymatebydd: King Henry VIII Endowed Trust (Warwick)

Asiant : Savills

We object to the draft policy direction on the basis that the requirement for sites of 500+ dwellings to provide gypsy and traveller plots is unjustified and therefore does not comply with the requirements of NPPF paragraph 36. The Gypsy, Traveller, Travelling Showpeople and Boat Dwellers Accommodation Assessment (August 2024) sets out the number of gypsy and traveller pitches required in the plan area. Paragraphs 8.27 and 8.28 identify a need for between 74 and 89 permanent pitches across the plan period, as well as 18 additional travelling showpeople plots. Paragraph 8.14 recommends that new sites do not exceed 20 pitches, suggesting that circa 4-5 new pitches are required during the plan period.
Paragraph 8.6 of the assessment states that “there is general consensus that smaller sites, yards and moorings are preferred by Gypsy, Traveller, Showpeople and boat dweller communities due to better management and maintenance of provision and security”. Therefore, we question whether requiring sites of over 500 dwellings to provide pitches is a justified approach, particularly given the modest need identified in the evidence base. We consider that it would be more appropriate to engage with the gypsy and traveller community to identify the locational requirements to meet their specific needs rather than arbitrarily requiring any site greater than 500 dwellings to make the provision. Only this approach would ensure that this need can be met in the right locations. Therefore, the evidence base for the provision of gypsy and traveller accommodation should be enhanced to ensure the locational requirements are appropriately met.