Maidstone Borough Council's home page

Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Ended on the 11 January 2026
Policy Map

Affordable local need accommodation on Rural Exception Sites

Policy TR6: Rural exception sites

  1. In the countryside (i.e. outside of Maidstone Urban Area, the Rural Service Centres and Larger Villages), the Council will work with Parish Councils and local stakeholders to bring forward affordable local accommodation needs for its rural communities in line with national policy and the latest government guidance.
  1. The Council will grant planning permission for rural exception sites for Gypsy, Traveller or Travelling Showpeople households subject to the following criteria:
     
    1. Development has been proven necessary by a local accommodation needs survey, including evidence to demonstrate that the proposed future occupiers are either current residents or have an existing family or employment connection;
       
    2. The scale of the proposed site is in proportion to, and does not dominate, the nearest settled community;
       
    3. The development is sustainably located, with preference given sites close to settlements and communities where a range of community facilities, in particular schools, health care, and shopping facilities are accessible from the site preferably on foot, by cycle or by public transport;
       
    4. The development is or can be made safely accessible to and from the public highway by all vehicles using the site;
       
    5. Where national landscape, ecological and/or heritage designations have the potential to be affected by the proposed development, regard must be given to the designation(s) and its purpose, whilst complying with national policy and guidance. Proposals shall have regard to areas of higher landscape sensitivity and heritage value;
       
    6. Deliver a minimum 20% biodiversity net gain, subject to the requirements of policy LPRSP14(A); and
       
    7. The site will only be used for affordable Gypsy, Traveller or Travelling Showpeople accommodation in perpetuity to meet the need for which it was permitted. This will be secured by planning conditions and/or legal agreements as appropriate.
  1. Similar to the challenge of providing affordable homes for the settled community, provision of affordable pitches/plots – usually on Council owned sites – is challenging. Whilst Maidstone borough is fortunate to have two Council- owned and managed sites at Water Lane and Stilebridge, these are both fully occupied with a wait list in operation. The turnover at both sites is low, which means there are people looking for a pitch on a public site, but cannot obtain one and are often left with limited accommodation choices as a result. This can sometimes result in illegal encampments or households having to live on the roadside.
  2. It is vitally important that pitches/plots of different tenures are available to support mixed and balanced communities, and provide residents with the stability and certainty over their homes. This in turn supports children attending local schools, and enables equitable access to local services and facilities such as healthcare and employment opportunities.
  1. In the same way that policy LPRHOU6 allows for the provision of affordable local need housing on Rural Exception Sites, the above criteria-based policy enables the provision of affordable rural exception Gypsy, traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites. Through this policy, pitches/plots could be delivered for households who are either current residents or have an existing family or employment connection, whilst also ensuring that rural areas continue to develop as sustainable, mixed, inclusive communities. This approach aligns with the PPTS[34].

Question 8: To what extent do you agree with the proposed policy for rural exception sites? Please provide comments to support your answer.

[34] Policy D, paragraph 15

For instructions on how to use the system and make comments, please see our help guide.
back to top