Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of (a) the potential merits of a national strategy to provide a nationwide network for authorised traveller sites for the Gypsy Romany Traveller community and (b) whether every local authority is meeting its obligation to provide (i) socially, (ii) environmentally, and (iii) economically sustainable sites.

Under section 8 of the Housing Act 1985 (as amended by section 124 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016) local housing authorities have a duty to consider the housing and accommodation needs of all persons who reside in and resort to their area, including those that live in caravans and houseboats.

The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (or PPTS), read in conjunction with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the Government’s planning policy for traveller sites. Planning policy is clear that local planning authorities should assess the need for traveller accommodation and identify land for sites.

Local authorities are best placed to make decisions about the number and location of such sites locally, as part of their plan and decision making duties. Paragraph 13 of the PPTS sets out that when plan making, local authorities should ensure that traveller sites are sustainable economically, socially and environmentally.

Authorities are encouraged to work collaboratively to develop effective strategies to meet need through the identification of land for development.