Object

Representation ID: 66646

Received: 26/06/2014

Respondent: Place Partnership Limited (PPL)

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Firstly there is an awareness of of disputes that could be exacerbated if sites had transit and permanent pitches in close proximity.
Secondly, once permission has been granted for a new site, it is quite possible that over the plan period further planning applications will be made to extend it. The policy therefore needs to give this possibility consideration and provide safeguards as to how to stop conflicting groups locating on the same site.
Thirdly, easy access to the emergency services is just as important to gypsy and traveller communities as it is to the settled community. This needs to be recognised in Policy H8.
Fourthly, Policy H8 as drafted contains no mention of the partnership work that is required when sites for gypsy and traveller pitches are proposed, given the often contentious nature of such proposals. The policy should cover discussions at the pre-application stage right through to when a decision on a planning application is made.
Finally, policy H8 makes no reference as to how new sites would contribute to the achievement of the Government's objectives for the planning system set out in paragraphs 58 and 69 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). In this regard, including policy support for Secured by Design would help to ensure new pitches complied with a nationally recognised standard.