BASE HEADER

No

ID sylw: 102788

Derbyniwyd: 07/03/2025

Ymatebydd: The Ragley Estate

Asiant : Stansgate Planning

The Policy Direction indicates that the Local Plan will require the provision of pitches and plots on large scale development sites, being sites providing over 500 homes. The proposed policy direction is unjustified and therefore does not comply with the requirements of Framework paragraph 36b).
Provision of gypsy, traveller and show peoples accommodation is an essential part of meeting housing needs across the District area and it is important that the SWLP includes a policy to consider the matter, and more particularly to meet the needs identified by the Gypsy, Traveller, Travelling Showpeople and Boat Dwellers Accommodation Assessment (August 2024) or any subsequent update. The current need, identified in the August report, is for up to 89 gypsy and traveller pitches, and 18 additional travelling showpeople plots, and provision for this level of accommodation is required.
The Councils consulted on the best location for these sites as part of the Issues and Options, suggesting three options – part of large development sites, on sites identified in the Plan, or assessed on a site by site basis against an agreed list of criteria. As the Preferred Options confirms, allocation within large development sites was the least favoured option. It is therefore surprising
that this is now the preferred option.
The August report confirms 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’. Thus to comply, small sites will be required. Provision, even of relatively small sites, as part of large developments, would not seem to conform with this requirement, and are unlikely to sit comfortably within large development areas.
The policy should revert to either specific allocation or a criteria based approach on a site by site basis.