South Essex Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment Update
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PLANNING POLICY SUB-COMMITTEE Item 7 – 31 January 2019 NEW LOCAL PLAN EVIDENCE BASE: SOUTH ESSEX GYPSY AND TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION ASSESSMENT (SEGTAA) UPDATE 2019 1 PURPOSE OF REPORT 1.1 The Council is at the early stages of reviewing its adopted local development plan policies. To inform this review, the Council has supported the preparation of a common evidence base with other Essex authorities to inform cross- boundary co-operation. An Essex-wide Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) was prepared in 2017, which provided evidence on needs up to 2033. A further update, the South Essex Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (SEGTAA), specifically for the six South Essex authorities, was commissioned to update the needs assessment to 2038 to align with the plan period of the South Essex Joint Strategic Plan. This report explains the key findings for this piece of evidence, as well as the implications for Rochford District’s plan-making. 2 INTRODUCTION National Policy 2.1 The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS) 2015 sets out national policy for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Show People. The PPTS requires Local Planning Authorities through the plan-making process to develop evidence which assesses the need for sites, including transit sites. Policy B sets out that, in the preparation of their Local Plans, local planning authorities should:- a) identify and update annually, a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide 5 years’ worth of sites against their locally set targets; b) identify a supply of specific, developable sites, or broad locations for growth, for years 6 to 10 and, where possible, for years 11-15; c) consider production of joint development plans that set targets on a cross- authority basis, to provide more flexibility in identifying sites, particularly if a local planning authority has special or strict planning constraints across its area (local planning authorities have a duty to co-operate on planning issues that cross administrative boundaries); d) relate the number of pitches or plots to the circumstances of the specific size and location of the site and the surrounding population’s size and density; and e) protect local amenity and environment. 2.2 The PPTS was first published in 2012 alongside the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and was subsequently updated in 2015. The update to the 7.1 PLANNING POLICY SUB-COMMITTEE Item 7 – 31 January 2019 PPTS included a change to the definition of Travellers for planning purposes, which included the removal of the term ‘persons… who have ceased to travel permanently’, meaning that those who have ceased to travel permanently now do not fall under the planning definition of a Traveller for the purposes of assessing their need within a GTAA. The Council is still obliged to plan for the accommodation needs of these households as part of its wider housing strategy. South Essex Plan-Making 2.3 The Essex authorities have a long history of working together to assess the needs for Gypsy and Traveller sites in the county. The most recent Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) covering Essex was published in 2017, following the change in definition within the PPTS. This GTAA projected the travelling community’s needs for pitches up to 2033. 2.4 In 2017, the South Essex authorities (Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Southend, and Thurrock Borough Councils, alongside Rochford District Council) formed the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA) to work towards, and deliver, a more joined up approach to managing growth challenges and opportunities over the next 30 years. As part of this, the six authorities and Essex County Council are in the process of preparing a South Essex Joint Strategic Plan, under the Duty to Co-operate, to deliver a proactive and effective strategy to address growth up to 2038. 2.5 Consultants, Opinion Research Services (ORS), were commissioned by the South Essex authorities to undertake an update to the 2017 GTAA. Specifically for Rochford District, the baseline was updated to take account of changes since ORS conducted interviews with the local traveller community (between January and November 2016). The primary justification for this was the unforeseen siting of two unauthorised travellers sites, which were not included in the 2017 assessment. These would have a proportionate impact on the overall need for pitches up to 2038, given the historically low number of pitches in the district. The main amendments to the baseline include: • Land south of Woodville, Hullbridge Road, Rayleigh (15/00448/FUL) – awarded a 5 year temporary consent on appeal • Land opposite 2 Goldsmith Drive, Rayleigh (17/01240/FUL) – discounted in the 2017 GTAA due to the site being vacant, now occupied with refused application being appealed • Land Adjacent St Theresa, Pudsey Hall Lane, Canewdon (18/00318/FUL) – occupied with refused application being appealed 2.6 This update identifies a need for additional pitches between 2016 and 2038 as follows: 7.2 PLANNING POLICY SUB-COMMITTEE Item 7 – 31 January 2019 • 18 additional pitches for households that meet the planning definition. This is made up of 5 unauthorised pitches, 1 temporary pitch, 2 concealed or doubled-up households or adults, 5 teenagers in need of a pitch of their own in the next 5 years, and new household formation of 5 using a rate of 1.00% derived from the household demographics; • 3 additional pitches for unknown households. This is made up of 1 unauthorised pitch, 1 pitch with temporary planning permission and new household formation of 1 from a maximum of 2 households; and • 11 additional pitches for households that do not meet the planning definition. This is made up of 7 unauthorised pitches, 1 concealed or doubled-up household or adults, and new household formation of 3 using a formation rate of 1.10% derived from the household demographics. 2.7 In terms of the need to maintaining a five year supply, this translates into the following need: 0-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-22 Years 2016- 2021- 2026- 2031- 2036- Total 21 26 31 36 38 Meet the 14 1 1 1 1 18 definition Unknown 2 0 1 0 0 3 households Do not meet the 9 0 1 1 0 11 definition 2.8 The findings for South Essex as a whole identify an overall need of 95 pitches for households that meet the planning definition, up to 125 pitches for unknown households and 187 pitches for households that do not meet the planning definition (2016 – 2038). 2.9 This update did not identify any future need for Travelling Showpeople plots in the District; however some demand was identified in neighbouring authority areas. Implications of the South Essex GTAA 2019 2.10 The SEGTAA 2019 has been used to inform the preparation of a Gypsy and Traveller Issues Paper which will be considered as a separate agenda item at the 31 January 2019 meeting of the Planning Policy Sub-Committee. 7.3 PLANNING POLICY SUB-COMMITTEE Item 7 – 31 January 2019 2.11 This update also serves as an up to date source of evidence on both existing supply and future demand for Gypsy and Traveller pitches both in the District and across South Essex as a whole. It will be used to inform the Council’s policy approach through the new Local Plan and any strategic approach taken through the South Essex Joint Strategic Plan. 3 RISK IMPLICATIONS 3.1 Planning policy – whether at the local or strategic level – must be based on adequate, up-to-date and relevant evidence about the economic, social and environmental characteristics and prospects of the area they cover. 3.2 The South Essex GTAA 2019 will set out the evidenced need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches in South Essex. This evidence is important to ensure that the Councils can clearly demonstrate, at the independent examination stage of the South Essex Joint Strategic Plan, justification for the draft policies covering Gypsy and Traveller needs. 4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS 4.1 Policies within emerging plans – whether at the local or strategic level – could have environmental implications particularly if new development is proposed. Any environmental implications will need to be considered at each stage of plan making; such consideration will be informed by Sustainability Appraisal to ensure the most sustainable options are identified. 5 RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS 5.1 The Council is required to prepare a Plan in accordance with the requirements of national planning policy to address relevant planning issues, including Gypsy and Traveller site provision. Any further outputs, such as GTAA updates, will need to be met from investments in the existing budget provision. 6 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS 6.1 The Localism Act 2011 requires Rochford District Council to co-operate and work with other prescribed bodies as part of the Duty to Co-operate on strategic cross boundary issues which includes, amongst other matters, provision for Gypsy and Traveller sites. Failure to do so could risk a submitted plan (whether at the local or strategic level) not meeting the Duty to Co-operate provisions set out in the Act and/or the tests of soundness at the examination stage. 7 EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY IMPLICATIONS 7.1 An Equality Impact Assessment has not been completed as no decision is being made. 7.4 PLANNING POLICY SUB-COMMITTEE Item 7 – 31 January 2019 8 RECOMMENDATION 8.1 It is proposed that the Sub-Committee RESOLVES That the South Essex GTAA update 2019, attached at Appendix A, be noted as evidence and published on the Council’s website. Shaun Scrutton Managing Director Background Papers:- None. For further information please contact Daniel Goodman (Senior Strategic Planner) on Phone: 01702 318043 Email: [email protected] If you would like this report in large print, Braille or another language please contact 01702 318111.