Policy information sourced from Runnymede Local Plan

SL22: Meeting the Needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

The Council’s most up to date assessment of the accommodation needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople (GTAA January 2018) identifies the following level of need for pitches and plots in the Borough over the period of the Local Plan:

Type2015-20222023-20272028-2030
Pitches71120
Plots1621

The Council remains committed to meeting identified needs (as set out in the Council’s most up to date assessment of needs at the time of consideration of any planning application) through a range of measures including:

  • By addressing identified site management issues on authorised sites to ensure that Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople who meet the planning definitions set out in Government policy are not being displaced from authorised sites;
  • By giving positive consideration to modest expansions of authorised traveller sites in the Borough, and proposals for the redevelopment of previously developed sites to provide pitches and plots where proposals would comply with other policies of this Plan, including Green Belt policies.
  • By attaching appropriate planning conditions and obligations to any planning approval granted, including a management agreement, to secure the measures set out in (1) to (6) (and where applicable (7)) of this policy, so far as they are relevant to the proposed development.

Subject to the criteria below, if a site allocation is required to make on-site provision for traveller accommodation and is unable to do so, offsite provision will be considered. Offsite accommodation will only be considered appropriate where all of the following criteria are met:

  • The alternative site provides for at least the same quantity of provision as required by the relevant allocation policy
  • The alternative site is considered as sustainable in regards to access to services, location and size as allocation on site;
  • The alternative site complies with the other policies of this Plan, including Green Belt policies; and
  • The site can be developed within the timeframe of the housing allocation.

The Council will also be working proactively to bring 48 existing pitches which are authorised for occupation for Gypsies and Travellers but which are not currently being used for this use back into use for Gypsies and Travellers.

Outside the site allocations in this Plan, planning permission for Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation will be granted provided that all of the following criteria are met:

  1. the site is suitably connected by sustainable and active modes of transport to a settlement with existing health care, retail, and school facilities;
  2. the impact of development would not harm landscape character;
  3. the site can be safely accessed by pedestrians, vehicles and caravans to and from the highway;
  4. the site is located in flood zone 1 as shown on the Policies Map or in flood zone 2 if it can be demonstrated that both the sequential and exception tests can be passed;
  5. the site can be suitably connected to clean and foul water utilities;
  6. all pitches/plots would be able to accommodate the reasonable amenities of the occupiers. The following criterion applies additionally to Travelling Showpeople accommodation only:
  7. in addition to (vi) above, the site should be suitable for the storage and maintenance of show equipment and associated vehicles without causing harm through conflict with other policies in the Plan.

Due to the nature of this housing need, there will be continuing co-operation with neighbouring Local Planning Authorities to ensure that the appropriate demand is identified and provision made across the wider area.

Where traveller pitches are required to be provided on sites allocated through this Local Plan, the Council will secure their delivery through the imposition of appropriate planning conditions or obligations attached to any planning approval granted. Those obligations will include an appropriate management agreement including measures to secure:

  • Phasing of site delivery and trigger points to secure early delivery, proportionate to the site delivery;
  • Measures to ensure the site is secured in perpetuity for Gypsies, Travellers or Travelling Showpeople (in accordance with the relevant definition from the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, or any replacement guidance) as appropriate;
  • A policy for Allocation (to preserve access for those with local connection); and,
  • Further to Policy SL20, consideration of delivery of a proportion of the pitches or plots at below market rate, as affordable housing, based on evidence of need as set out in the Council’s latest GTAA and viability at the time of the application. This consideration applies to both the provision of pitches or plots on site and in cases where provision is proposed off site.

The loss of authorised pitches and plots for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople to other uses will be resisted unless it can be demonstrated that there is a surplus supply of traveller pitches and plots for gypsies and travellers in the Borough.

For more information please see the Local Plan