South Gloucestershire Council reveals plans for 100 new pitches for Gypsies and Travellers, addressing a long-standing shortage in the area over the next 15 years
South Gloucestershire: The council has announced plans for 100 new Gypsy and Traveller pitches. This will also include 15 plots for Travelling Showpeople. The new Local Plan aims to tackle a long-standing shortage of living spaces for these communities.
In September 2022, a government inspector criticized the council for not providing enough land. The council has been urged to address this issue since 2006 but has delayed action.
Now, 82 locations have been identified for pitches. The Local Plan will be approved soon and will protect these sites for future use. Some greenbelt areas will be reclassified to allow for this development.
The plan states that 119 new pitches are needed by 2042. This includes 76 private pitches and 43 for social needs. Existing sites will also be safeguarded for continued use.
Seven current sites will be intensified to accommodate more families. This will create 31 new private pitches. Three sites will expand, adding 11 more pitches. Five new sites will provide 21 additional pitches.
The council is also looking to meet social needs by proposing eight new sites for 37 pitches. They plan to redesign existing sites to improve living conditions.
For Travelling Showpeople, 59 new plots are needed. The council has found one new site for 15 plots, but there’s still a shortfall of 44 plots.
The council aims to engage with the community to find more land for new sites. They want to explore options for future development through the Local Plan process.
Here’s a list of the proposed sites for Gypsies, Travellers, and Showpeople, along with the number of pitches or plots available.
