Deputy Prime Minister written question – answered at on 4 April 2005.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister
(1) how many (a) sites and (b) caravans he assesses would be reasonable to be contained within a Gypsy and Traveller development plan document drawn up by Brentwood borough council;
(2) what his assessment is of the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites in (a) each (i) district and (ii) unitary authority in the county of Essex and (b) each county in the eastern region; and if he will make a statement;
(3) how he will assess the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites in each (a) district, (b) county and (c) region; and if he will make a statement;
(4) how he will allocate the required number of Gypsy and Traveller sites between adjoining local authorities in each district, county and region.
It is for Brentwood borough council to assess the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites in its area. The Housing Act 2004 will require that local authorities, when assessing local housing need should include the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers, and that they should develop a strategy on how to meet the needs identified.
Assessments of housing need are co-ordinated at the regional level and provide input to the revision of regional spatial strategies (RSS). Guidance in the draft circular Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Sites" proposes that where there is an assessment of unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the area the regional spatial strategy and development plan documents at local level should allocate land to meet those needs. The RSS should set out how the required number of pitches for Gypsies and Travellers might vary between constituent authorities. Development plan documents at local level should then allocate land to meet those needs.
In advance of provision in revised regional spatial strategies local authorities have a range of information available to them to inform the development of local policies and plans, including the twice-yearly caravan count, waiting lists for public sites and incidents of unauthorised encampment, and their own assessments.
Yes0 people think so
No2 people think not
Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.