Policy H14 — Gypsy and traveller accommodation

Policy H14 Gypsy and traveller accommodation A Boroughs should plan to meet the identified need for permanent gypsy and traveller pitches and must include ten-year pitch targets in their Development Plan Documents. B Boroughs that have not undertaken a needs assessment since 2008 should use the figure of need for gypsy and traveller accommodation provided in Table 4.4 as identified need for pitches until a needs assessment is undertaken as part of their Development Plan review process. C Boroughs that have undertaken a needs assessment since 2008 should update this as part of their Development Plan review process. D Boroughs should undertake an audit of existing local authority provided gypsy and traveller sites and pitches, working with residents occupying these, identifying: 1) areas of overcrowding 2) areas of potential extra capacity within existing sites 3) pitches in need of refurbishment and/or provision of enhanced infrastructure (including utilities, open space and landscaping). E Boroughs should plan to address issues identified in the audits. F Boroughs should actively plan to protect existing gypsy and traveller and Travelling Showpeople or circus people pitch or plot capacity, and this should be taken into account when considering new residential developments to ensure inclusive, balanced and cohesive communities are created. 4.14.1 Boroughs should actively plan for gypsy and travellers’ accommodation needs , and should ensure that new sites are well-connected to social infrastructure, health care, education and public transport facilities, and contribute to a wider, inclusive neighbourhood. 4.14.2 The Mayor will initiate and lead a London-wide gypsy and traveller accommodation needs assessment , and will work to support boroughs in finding ways to make provision for gypsy and traveller accommodation. Until the findings of this new London-wide needs assessment are available for use in Development Plans boroughs should continue to plan to meet the need for permanent gypsy and traveller pitches in accordance with the requirements of Policy H14 Gypsy and traveller accommodation , with a particular focus on Part B. 4.14.3 Insufficient pitch provision can lead to a rise in unauthorised encampments , with implications for the health and wellbeing of gypsy and travellers, community cohesion and costs for boroughs. 4.14.4 It is acknowledged that, in addition to permanent sites, suitable short-term sites are an important component of the suite of accommodation for gypsy and travellers. Research is currently underway to understand how a ‘negotiated stopping’ approach could work in London as a way of minimising the number of unauthorised encampments. 4.14.5 To assist boroughs in meeting identified need, Mayoral funding will be available through the Homes for Londoners Affordable Homes Programme for the provision of new pitches, on a single or multi-borough basis, and for refurbishment of existing pitches identified via an audit of existing pitches. 4.14.6 Where new gypsy and traveller pitches are proposed, the pitch and site layouts and the design of service blocks should be accessible and adaptable to ensure they are suitable for a range of users including disabled and older people, and families with young children. 4.14.7 If existing gypsy and traveller pitches or Travelling Showpeople’s or circus people’s sites or plots have to be re-located or re-provided within a borough, the new provision should take into account existing family or community groupings and avoid splitting these up wherever possible. Residents occupying pitches, sites or plots should be involved in the planning of any unavoidable re-locations to ensure satisfactory solutions are achieved, and replacement accommodation should be secured before relocation takes place. 4.14.8 The requirements of H14 are in addition to the duties under section 124 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 , which require local housing authorities to consider the needs of people residing in or resorting to their district with respect to the provision of both sites on which caravans can be stationed, or places on inland waterways where houseboats can be moored. Table 4.4 - Need for gypsy and traveller pitches from London Boroughs Table 4.4 - Need for gypsy and traveller pitches from London Boroughs’ Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment March 2008, [75] midpoint need figure 2007-2017 Table 4.4 shows the number of additional pitches for gypsies and travellers needed in each London borough during the period from 2007 to 2017, as identified in the London Borough Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment published in March 2008 Borough Need Barking and Dagenham 8 Barnet 8 Bexley* N/A Brent 18 Bromley 74 Camden 4 City of London 0 Croydon 15 Ealing 38 Enfield 1 Greenwich 34 Hackney 24 Hammersmith and Fulham 3 Haringey 32 Harrow 8 Havering 20 Hillingdon 25 Hounslow 11 Islington 2 Kensington and Chelsea 9 Kingston upon Thames 10 Lambeth 7 Lewisham 12 Merton 10 Newham 15 Redbridge 11 Richmond upon Thames 9 Southwark 15 Sutton 11 Tower Hamlets 33 Waltham Forest 5 Wandsworth 7 Westminster 0 * London Borough of Bexley was excluded from the commissioning of this research and no survey work took place there.London Plan Policy H14 · official source →