Gypsy and Travellers - planning

The proposed scope of the Gypsy and Travellers DPD is to allocate land for travellers in sustainable locations meeting identified permanent and temporary accommodation needs up to 2036 (at the time of consultation), in line with Government planning policy and legislation. 

At this stage we were seeking comments on the Plan's scope and our proposed approach to meeting accommodation needs.  

To view the consultation document, please use the link below:

• Planning for Wiltshire's Gypsy and Traveller Communities consultation document (PDF) [839KB] (opens new window)

The 2024 Local Development Scheme states that a Gypsies and Traveller Plan will be developed by the Council. The purpose of the Plan is to identify accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers and travelling showpeople; and to identify sites to meet this need. It will cover the period to 2038. Adoption of the Plan is anticipated for quarter 3 2025.

A key piece of evidence informing the Plan, as well as decisions on planning applications that may come forward, is the Wiltshire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA). The GTAA identifies permanent and temporary accommodation needs for gypsies and travellers and travelling show people over a period of around 15 years in line with the Government's Planning policy for traveller sites. The March 2022 GTAA updates and supersedes the previous GTAA dated June 2020.

• 2022 Wiltshire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• 2020 Wiltshire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)
• Wiltshire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (PDF) [2MB] (opens new window)  - 2014

The Wiltshire Core Strategy as part of the development plan for Wiltshire remains the starting point in determining planning applications for traveller sites. Core Policy 47 in the Core Strategy sets out the Council's strategy for meeting accommodation needs and determining planning applications.

However, the 2020 Wiltshire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment published below can be a material consideration in determining planning applications for traveller sites.

The 1985 Housing Act (as amended) (opens new window) requires Councils to periodically assess the accommodation needs of persons residing in caravans and houseboats within their district.  Planning Policy for Traveller Sites requires Councils to undertake their own assessment of accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers and travelling showpeople; and to identify sites in their Local Plan to meet identified need. 

Private land supply has been consistently poor despite a Call for Sites which remains open to date.
Interested landowners can register sites with the council for consideration and assessment, if you have a site which you would like to be considered as part of this process please visit the SHLAA section our  Monitoring and evidence page and use the call for sites form or contact the Spatial Planning Team directly spatialplanningpolicy@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS) paragraph 10a states that local planning authorities should identify and update annually, a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide 5 years' worth of sites against their locally set targets. This Statement provides a 2018-based 5 year land supply position consistent with PPTS, for each Housing Market Area in Wiltshire.

Five Year Supply Statement for Gypsy and Traveller Sites 2018 (PDF) [314KB] (opens new window)

Wiltshire Council undertook a survey amongst residential boaters on the Kennet and Avon Canal in the summer of 2017,  to improve information on boater accommodation needs. This will support the evidence for the Wiltshire Local Plan which is scheduled to conclude in 2024, as set out in the 2022 Local Development Scheme.

• You can read the Boaters Survey final report   here (PDF) [606KB] (opens new window) .

Comments or questions can be directed to the Spatial Planning Team at 01225 713223 or spatialplanningpolicy@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).