Housing

Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

This section explains the Government’s policy for reducing levels of unauthorised camping by ensuring Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople have enough authorised sites to raise their families.

This section provides guidance for local authorities on their responsibilities to ensure appropriate sites for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople are identified through the planning process, as well as their powers to enforce against unauthorised campsites. It also gives details of the bi-annual caravan count.

Latest news and publications

On 12 May 2009 Communities and Local Government published details of the Gypsy and Traveller caravan count that was carried out on 19 January 2009 by local authorities in England.

The publication can be found on this page (seeThe Caravan Count) and is provided as two Excel tables: one showing data from the count carried out on 19 January 2009 and the previous four counts, and one giving a list of Gypsy and Traveller sites, provided by Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords in England.

Communities and Local Government's policy on Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

There is a rich heritage of Gypsies and Travellers in this country - going back at least 500 years. However, they have been called the most socially excluded ethnic minority in the country and nearly a quarter of Gypsies and Travellers who live in caravans have no authorised place to stay and raise their families. This means that they are forced to resort to roadside camping or other unsuitable locations. This causes difficulties for those families in terms of access to basic facilities and services as well as potentially causing inconvenience for local residents with a consequent risk of community tensions.

The Government's policy therefore is aimed at increasing authorised site provision for Gypsies and Travellers, whilst ensuring that strong enforcement powers are available to tackle unauthorised sites. The Government has given local authorities strong powers to enforce against both unauthorised developments (where Gypsies and Travellers develop land without planning permission) and unauthorised encampments (where Gypsies and Travellers camp on land they do not own without permission).

To help local authorities assess the need for sites, the Housing Act 2004 requires local authorities to assess the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers in the same way that they do for other forms of housing. In 2006, the Government published ODPM Circular 01/06: Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites which provides guidance on how authorities should identify sufficient land within their area to meet the number of pitches required. Similar requirements exist for Travelling Showpeople. The provision of places for Gypsies and Travellers to live will reduce the number of unauthorised sites across the country.

In 2006, the Government appointed an independent Task Group, chaired by Sir Brian Briscoe, to look at whether these enforcement powers were sufficient to tackle the issues surrounding unauthorised camps. In their 2007 final report, The Road Ahead, they concluded that existing powers were sufficient and that the Government's policies on site provision and enforcement were sound. However, it concluded that the pace of delivery of new sites was too slow, and local authorities should consider identifying potential new sites as soon as possible.

Communities and Local Government has published a guide for local authorities on their responsibilities towards Gypsies and Travellers and the powers available to them to enforce against unauthorised camps.

The Caravan Count

The bi-annual Count of Gypsy and Traveller Caravans takes place twice a year and records the number of caravans on both authorised and unauthorised sites across England.

Gypsy and Traveller Sites Grant

The Homes and Communities Agency administer funding for the provision of new publicly own sites and the refurbishment of existing ones. Details of how to apply for grant can be found on the Homes and Communities Agency website (external link).

Communities and Local Government has responsibility for schemes allocated grant in, and prior to, 2008/09. Details of successful schemes for 2008/09 were announced on 18 December 2008 and are available to download (MS Excel 68 Kb).

Further Information

A selection of guidance and other publications concerning Gypsies and Travellers is available to download.

If you have any questions about Gypsy and Travellers, or Communities and Local Government's policy, you can:

  • download facts and figures which answer frequently asked questions
  • visit Directgov (external link) for more information on Gypsy and Traveller sites in your area and what to do if you are experiencing anti-social behaviour
  • join our Community of Practice (external link), the Gypsy and Traveller Knowledge Network. This is a knowledge sharing website run by the Improvement and Development Agency and membership is open to local authorities, service providers and Gypsy and Traveller Third Sector organisations.

or contact us at:

The Gypsy and Traveller Unit
Communities and Local Government
7/J9 Eland House
Bressenden Place
London
SW1E 5DU

Telephone. 020 7944 3565
E-mail. Gypsies@communities.gsi.gov.uk.

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