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Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Development Plan Document

Ended on the 11 January 2026
Policy Map

Accommodation on non-allocated sites

Policy TR7: Accommodation on non-allocated sites

  1. In accordance with the spatial strategy as set out under policy TR1, planning permission for Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation will be granted on non-allocated sites where the following criteria are met:
     
    1. Site accessibility – the site can be safely accessed from the highways by pedestrians as well as by all vehicles using the site, including emergency services and service/maintenance vehicles;
       
    2. Access to community facilities – the site should be sustainably located, with access to a range of local community facilities, in particular schools, health care, and shopping facilities, preferably by foot, cycle or public transport;
       
    3. Transport links – a range of transport mode options are or can be made available to reach community facilities, reflecting the extent to which traditional lifestyles (whereby some Travellers live and work from the same location thereby omitting many travel to work journeys) can contribute to sustainability;
       
    4. Flooding – sites are not located in areas at risk from flooding (Flood Risk Zones 3a and 3b) based on the latest information from the Environment Agency or a specific Flood Risk Assessment which has been agreed by the Environment Agency. In accordance with national policy, Sequential and Exception Tests should be provided where necessary;
       
    5. Living environment – proper consideration should be given of the effect of local environmental quality (such as noise and air quality) on the health and well-being of occupants; consider noise from vehicles and noise from existing communities, and close proximity to sites allocated for business use if possible;
       
    6. Landscape character – sites should not result in significant harm to the landscape and character of an area, with particular regard to designations of both national and local importance including landscapes of local value and landscape character areas, and the cumulative effect of development on the landscape. See also policy LPRSP9 and policy TR8;
       
    7. Land particulars – Unless exceptional circumstance apply, sites should preferably be located in areas that are not inappropriate for ordinary 'bricks and mortar' housing. Sites should preferably not be located on contaminated land and should preferably be on relatively flat land. Sites specifically for Travelling Showpeople accommodation should be suitable for the storage and maintenance of show equipment and associated vehicles;
       
    8. Location within community – proposals should seek to promote an integrated co-existence between sites and the local community, seeking to improve community cohesion and relationships while acknowledging that the preference is often to be on the edge of settled communities but not isolated from them;
       
    9. Site size – in accordance with the PPTS, sites in rural or semi-rural settings should be of a scale that does not dominate the nearest settled community. Consideration should also be given to the cumulative size of multiple sites within the setting;
       
    10. Planning definitions – all caravans must meet the definition of a caravan in the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act (1960) and the Caravan Sites Act (1968). All households occupying the proposed site must meet the latest PPTS Annex 1 definition of a Gypsy, Traveller or Travelling Showperson.
       
  2. In accordance with the latest PPTS, the above criteria should also be used to guide land supply allocations where there is an identified need.
  1. There will be instances where applications for Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation are submitted on sites that are not allocated in this plan. These are known as windfall development and form an important part of the supply of culturally appropriate accommodation in the borough.
  1. The identified need for culturally appropriate accommodation arising beyond the first five years of the plan as well as that from undetermined households – as identified in the GTAA – is largely expected to be met through provision on non-allocated or 'windfall' sites. In many cases, these will be existing authorised sites in the borough.
  1. In line with our spatial strategy and Settlement Hierarchy, it is preferable for such development to be located within or close to existing settlements where there are community facilities, services and infrastructure such as schools and health care services. However, frequently, because of land ownership and availability, sites tend to be more rural in nature.
  1. Where proposals for development on non-allocated sites come forward specifically in the Countryside – be they on existing sites or entirely new sites – the impact of any proposed development on the landscape and rural character is an important factor to consider in respect of the wider objective of protecting the intrinsic character of the borough's countryside. Policy LPRSP9 will apply.
  1. In line with national guidance[35], applications for Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople pitches/plots on non-allocated (windfall) sites will be assessed using this criteria-based policy. These criteria can also be used to guide land supply allocations. This policy (TR7) is intended to replace Local Plan Review policy (LPRHOU8).

Question 9: To what extent do you agree with the proposed policy for accommodation on non-allocated sites? Please provide comments to support your answer.

[35] PPTS paragraph 11

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