Policy information sourced from Tonbridge and Malling Core Strategy

CP20 Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

Provision will be made through a specific land allocation Development Plan Document or permission will be granted for the number of caravan site plots specified in the South East Plan on sites which meet the criteria in Part 2 of this Policy. In identifying sites, first consideration will be given to the limited expansion of one or both of the two existing publicly controlled gypsy sites in the Borough.

Accommodation for gypsies and travellers (as defined in Circular 01/06), suitable for mixed residential and commercial use, and sites for travelling showpeople will be proposed in the LDF or permitted if all of the following requirements are met:

  • there is an identified need that cannot reasonably be met on an existing or planned site;
  • residential or rural amenity is not prejudiced as a result of visual intrusion, excessive noise, lighting, traffic generation or activity at unsocial hours;
  • the site respects the scale of, and does not dominate, the nearest settled community;
  • the site can adequately be accessed by vehicles towing caravans and there is safe pedestrian and cycle access to the site;
  • the site is reasonably accessible to shops, schools and other community facilities on foot, by cycle or public transport; and
  • in the case of travelling showpeople, the site is suitable in all respects for the storage of large items of mobile equipment.

There will be a presumption against the development of gypsy and traveller accommodation (including sites for travelling showpeople) in the Green Belt unless there are very special circumstances.

For more information please see the Core Strategy