Policy information sourced from the Epping Forest District Local Plan 2011-2033
H4 Traveller Site Development
- The Council will meet the identified need for travellers through the provision of yards and/or pitches as part of site allocations as set out in Policies SP1 and SP4 and Chapter 5.
- If planning applications for traveller site development are received for sites other than those allocated in this Plan they will be determined taking into account the following considerations:
- the impact on local amenity and the natural and historic environment;
- the relationship to local services with capacity, including education establishments, health and welfare services, shops and community facilities;
- access to the highway, public transport services and sustainable transport options;
- the provision of on-site facilities for parking, storage, play and residential amenity and appropriate essential services;
- whether the site is located outside of areas at risk of flooding;
- the compatibility of the proposed use with surrounding land uses including potential disturbance from vehicular movements, and on-site business activities;
- the impact on the physical and visual character of the area;
- the potential for successful integration between travelling and settled communities; and
- any impact on the Green Belt. Openness will need to be preserved and very special circumstances demonstrated.
- Proposals for new sites under Part B of this Policy should not exceed five pitches unless a specific justification is provided for a greater number of pitches up to a maximum of ten pitches.
- Planning permission will not be granted for the replacement of lawful traveller sites by permanent dwellings or other uses unless it can be clearly demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Council that there is no genuine need or likely future need for traveller sites in the locality and other planning policy requirements are met.
For more information please see the Epping Forest District Local Plan 2011-2033