brentwood.gov.uk

Specialist Accommodation Needs and Supply - Gypsy & Traveller

ECC notes that BBC has been working in partnership with Essex local authorities, through jointly commissioning the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) (2017) to provide a robust assessment of current and future need for Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople families and has used this data to inform how it addresses this in its Draft Local Plan.

ECC acknowledges BBC is seeking to meet its identified needs (78 pitches between 2016 and 2033), as identified in the Brentwood GTAA Need Summary Report October 2017, and is seeking to follow a sequential approach to site identification. ECC recommends that reference should be made to the most up to date position which is from the Greater Essex GTAA for 2016-2033 which was endorsed by EPOA on 25th January 2018 and published in February 2018.

ECC also seeks clarification on the suitability of the proposed sites for the provision of specific Gypsy and Traveller accommodation (58 pitches across 4 large preferred housing allocation sites), as well as information on any additional infrastructure requirements such accommodation may require.

Furthermore ECC seeks clarification on whether the location of such accommodation, on four large housing sites, has implications for the general housing capacity of the preferred housing sites. This should also be considered in combination with the location of the required registered care facilities, which are proposed on three of the four same large housing sites (see ECC comments above).

ECC notes and welcomes reference to the GTAA recommendations for BBC to engage with other Essex authorities to establish whether there is a need for investment in more formal transit sites or emergency stopping places.

ECC recommends that BBC should reference the transit recommendations as set out in the published Greater Essex GTAA (2018), which recognises and seeks to address the strategic cross boundary matters at a larger 'Greater Essex' level, incorporating data from local authorities; the Essex Countywide Traveller Unit (ECTU) and other sources. There are a range of site options available to address enforcement and unauthorised encampment issues (ie not just Transit sites), but also emergency stopping places, temporary stop and stopping places and negotiated stopping places. There is a need for further investigation and analysis to provide a more robust appraisal of current and future transit needs, to be undertaken.

ECC recommends that as part of the Plan preparation process any policy provision and supporting text should be flexible enough to allow the outcomes of the further work to be incorporated.