South Worcestershire Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Site

South Worcestershire Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

Site Allocations Development Plan Document

Revised Preferred Options Consultation

January 2021 Contents

Page

1. Introduction and Context

Purpose of the Consultation 5

Purpose of the Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations 5 Development Plan Document

Sustainability Appraisal 6

How to Comment 6

Definition of Travellers and Travelling Showpeople 7

National Planning Policy Context 7

Local Plan Context 8

Policy SWDP 17 and Related Policies 8

Existing Provision of Traveller Pitches and Showpeople Plots in South 10 Worcestershire

Why We Need A Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations 10 Development Plan Document

2. What We Have Done So Far

Vision 12

Objectives 12

The Evidence Base 13

Development to Date 15

Tolerated Sites 16

Call for Sites – Spring 2015 16

Preferred Options Consultation – Spring 2016 17

Call for Sites – Winter 2016/17 17

Site Selection Process 18

3. Proposed Site Allocations

Meeting The Need For Deliverable Traveller Pitches To 2021/22 20

Specific Consultation Questions

2 Travelling Showpeople 22

Transit Sites 22

Proposed Deliverable Pitches 22

Meeting The Need For Developable Pitches and Plots 23

Figure 1 : Broad Locations for the Growth of Sites for Travellers and 24 Travelling Showpeople

4. Other Planning Issues

Tenure Of Proposed New Pitches 25

Nomadic Habit Of Life 25

Rural Exception Sites 26

Site Design Considerations 26

Safeguarding Of Sites 28

General 28

5. Next Steps

Timetable 29

Appendix 1 Glossary 30

Appendix 2 Site Assessment Criteria and Detailed Considerations 33

Appendix 3 Proposed Site Allocations 35

Figure 2: Location of Proposed Deliverable & Developable Sites 35

Hillbee Farm, Welland Road, Upton upon Severn 36

The Orchard, Knowle Hill, Evesham 37

Blossom Hill, Village St, Aldington 41

Hughes Barn, Bretforton Rd, Badsey 42

3 1. Introduction and Context

Purpose of the Consultation

The South Worcestershire Councils (Malvern Hills, Worcester and Wychavon) are preparing a Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Document which will set out the requirement for the number of pitches and plots to be provided to meet the needs of Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in south Worcestershire over the coming years.

The final Development Plan Document (DPD) will allocate new sites or extensions/intensifications to existing Travellers and Travelling Showpeople sites and will become part of the Development Plan for the South Worcestershire Councils (SWCs).

The South Worcestershire Councils undertook three “calls for sites”: February to March 2015, November 2016 – January 2017 and the latest October – November 2020. The calls for sites provided an opportunity for individuals and organisations to suggest sites that they considered might be suitable for allocation as a Traveller or Travelling Showpeople site. It was made clear that proposals could be for either new sites or an expansion or intensification of an existing site. Proposals were invited for permanent residential sites or transit sites / temporary stopping places – although it should be noted that the latest GTAA (Oct 2019) suggests that transit or temporary stopping places are not required due to the Toleration Policy currently operative across Worcestershire.

Sites were sieved out which failed on the grounds of either the site being unavailable for Travellers or Travelling Showpeople purposes or the site had major constraints such as being within planning designations, areas prone to flooding, or on contaminated land, etc. Remaining sites went through a more detailed assessment. This is explained further in the section on Site Selection Process (page 17).

Purpose of the Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Document

The Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Document (TTS DPD) allocates sites to meet the need as identified in the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) (Oct 2019).

The short term needs (for the first 5 years) will be met through the allocation of sites to meet the identified needs in the GTAA – this includes the allocation of existing tolerated sites, i.e. sites which do not have planning permission but do not cause any planning harm.

 The medium term need (for years 6 to 10) will be met via the new sites on the urban extensions and/or windfall sites coming forward in the broad locations indicated on Map 1.

 The longer term need (11 to15 years) is not covered by this DPD because the level of need is likely to have changed by that time and there will have been a review of the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP).

The Revised Preferred Options consultation seeks views on these matters.

4 Sustainability Appraisal

The TTS DPD is informed by a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) which will contribute to the evidence base with the aim of delivering sustainable development.

For the purposes of this consultation an Interim Sustainability Appraisal has been prepared to set out the assessment of the strategic options and sites and can be viewed at (link to be inserted) A full Sustainability Appraisal Report will be published alongside the Publication version of the Plan.

How to Comment

The consultation period runs for 7 weeks from 1 March to 19 April 2021 and comments can be made using the on-line form via the SWDP website (link to be inserted)

Alternatively you may wish to submit comments:

 By email. To: [email protected] or

 By post. To: South Worcestershire Development Plan, c/o Wychavon District Council, Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Pershore, Worcestershire, WR10 1PT.

Further information about the TTS DPD and an electronic copy of the Response Form are available on the SWDP website at (link to be inserted)

Hard copies of this Consultation Document are also available at Libraries.

Please be aware that copies of representations will be made available for public inspection and cannot be treated as confidential. This information will include your name, organisation and your comment. Representations will also be available on the councils’ websites.

Inappropriate comments submitted as part of the consultation will not be considered. These may include, but are not be limited to, representations that are deemed to be racist or discriminatory.

5 Definition of Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

For the purposes of planning, The Government’s Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (August 2015) defines Gypsies and Travellers as:

Persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their family’s or dependants’ educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily, but excluding members of an organised group of Travelling Showpeople or circus people travelling together as such.

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites also says that “in determining whether persons are “Gypsies and Travellers” for the purposes of this planning policy, consideration should be given to the following issues amongst other relevant matters:

a) whether they previously led a nomadic habit of life b) the reasons for ceasing their nomadic habit of life c) whether there is an intention of living a nomadic habit of life in the future, and if so, how soon and in what circumstances.”

Travelling Showpeople are defined as:

Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers as defined above.

The National Planning Policy Context

The Government’s Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (paragraph 10) states that local planning authorities should, in producing their Local Plan “identify and update annually, a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide five years’ worth of sites against their locally set targets”. Further, Local Plans should “identify a supply of specific, developable sites or broad locations for growth, for years six to ten and, where possible, for years 11-15.”

The Planning Policy for Traveller Sites says that to be deliverable , sites should be:

 Available now;

 Offer a suitable location for development now; and be

 Achievable with a realistic prospect that housing will be delivered on the site within five years and in particular that development on the site is viable.

To be considered developable , sites should be in a suitable location for Traveller site development and there should be a reasonable prospect that the site is available and could be viably developed at the point envisaged.

The Government’s Planning Policy for Traveller Sites also says that “criteria should be set to guide land supply allocations where there is identified need. Where there is no identified need, criteria-based policies should be included to provide a basis for decisions in case applications nevertheless come forward. Criteria based policies should be fair and should

6 facilitate the traditional and nomadic life of travellers while respecting the interests of the settled community.” (paragraph 11)

Local Plan Context

The SWC prepared the SWDP which was adopted in February 2016. The SWDP sets out the strategy, together with policies and site allocations to guide the location of new pitches in south Worcestershire up to 2030.

One of the issues that the SWDP addresses is meeting the accommodation needs of Travellers and Travelling Showpeople.

A new Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) was published in Oct 2019 to inform the need for this DPD.

Policy SWDP 17 (Travellers and Travelling Showpeople)

The pitch requirements set out in the SWDP in Policy SWDP 17 have been superseded by the evidence in the GTAA (Oct 2019).

Policy SWDP17 also sets out a number of criteria 1 to guide land supply allocations and provide a basis for decisions when planning applications come forward.

The SWDP Review will include a similar Traveller policy to the SWDP – both setting out the need for new Traveller pitches and a criteria based policy for determining planning applications.

1 Criterion xi) is no longer applicable because of the cancellation of the CLG Good Practice Guide on Designing Gypsy and Traveller Sites

7 Existing Provision of Travellers Pitches and Showpeople Plots in South Worcestershire

In Spring 2019, the GTAA records that there were 217 permanent Traveller pitches and 12 Travelling Showpeople plots within south Worcestershire:

 131 authorised private pitches,  86 local authority managed pitches (plus 4 unoccupied)  1 Travelling Showperson’s yard located in Malvern Hills which provides 12 plots.

In addition, there were:  30 transit pitches (24 with temporary planning permission and 6 not yet developed)  20 residential private pitches with temporary planning permission  7 pitches located on unauthorised developments (1 pitch in Malvern Hills regarded as unauthorised and 6 pitches in Wychavon referred to by the local authority as tolerated pitches)  There were 29 potential pitches (i.e. pitches with planning permission but which had not yet been developed) located in Wychavon.

Table 1 Traveller Pitches in South Worcestershire Spring 2019)

Malvern Hills Worcester Wychavon Total

Local Authority Site 5 15 66 86 Housing Associ ation Site 0 0 0 0 Private Site – Authorised 15 0 116 131 Private Site – Temporary 8 0 12 20 Authorised ** Unauthorised 1 0 0 1 Unauthorised - tolerated 0 0 6 6 TOTAL 29 15 200 244 **Plus an additional 24 transit pitches at Crossway Green

Why Do We Need A Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Document? The SWC are required to identify and update annually, a supply of deliverable Travellers pitches sufficient to provide five years’ worth of sites against locally set targets. It is important to be able to demonstrate a 5 year supply of sites and the adoption of a DPD is the best way to evidence a suitable supply of sites and thus reduce the risk of less appropriate sites being approved, or granted temporary consent. Further, the failure to allocate sufficient land to meet the need for new pitches could have a number of impacts including:  Continuing the problem of unauthorised development and encampments with the associated tensions with the settled community,  Restricting the Council’s ability to enforce against unauthorised development as our ability to enforce is related to efforts to meet the need for new provision, and

8  Increasing the difficulty of ensuring that the Traveller and Travelling Showpeople community has access to the same public services that are available to the settled community. The TTS DPD will therefore seek to address these issues by identifying deliverable sites to meet the accommodation needs of Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in south Worcestershire in the first 5 years and identify broad locations for years 6 to 10. Doing nothing to address the issues is therefore not considered a viable option.

9 2. What Have We Done So Far?

Vision

The Vision for the TTS DPD is that by 2030 south Worcestershire will be an area where:

Travellers and Travelling Showpeople have the same opportunities and responsibilities as the settled community to secure a decent home which allows them to pursue and preserve their traditional way of life and there is sufficient land and pitches available to meet the identified need for accommodation.

Sites are well located, sustainable and of high quality where residents enjoy living and where they and the site are well integrated with the wider local community.

Unauthorised developments and encampments are reduced and there are harmonious relationships between the Traveller, Travelling Showpeople and settled communities.

Both the travelling and settled communities have security and certainty about their future and that of their local environment.

Objectives

The overarching objective to deliver this Vision is to:

To provide authorised pitches for Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in south Worcestershire in line with evidence of established need in the most appropriate locations to reduce the number of unauthorised developments and encampments and enable Travellers and Travelling Showpeople to access the services and facilities that meet their needs, whilst respecting the interests of the settled community.

To achieve this it will be necessary to:

 Identify sites that are available, suitable and deliverable;

 Allocate and grant planning permission for sufficient land and pitches to meet identified needs within south Worcestershire in the most appropriate locations;

 Allocate sites and pitches in the most sustainable locations to enable reasonable access to local services and facilities including health, education and employment;

 Ensure sites are of high quality design and are safe and pleasant places to live; and

 Provide clear guidance for making decisions on planning applications regarding Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites.

10 The Evidence Base

In October 2019 Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) was published for south Worcestershire which identifies the future accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. The south Worcestershire GTAA is available at: https://www.swdevelopmentplan.org/swdp-review/swdp-review-evidence-base/south- worcestershire-gypsy-and-traveller-accommodation-assessment

The GTAA identified the need for new Traveller pitches and Travelling Showpeople plots from 2019 to 2041 and is summarised in Table 2.

Table 2 Need for Permanent Traveller Pitches and Travelling Showpeople - 2019 – 2041

Malvern Malvern Worcester Wychavon South Hills Hills City Traveller Worcestershire Traveller Travelling Traveller Pitches** Traveller Pitches** Showpeople Pitches** Pitches** Plots ** 2019- 15 7 1 14 30 2023 * 2024- 3 1 1 16 20 2028 2029- 3 1 1 18 22 2033 2034- 4 1 2 26 32 2041 2019- 25 10 5 74 104 20 41 source: South Worcestershire Addendum to the GTAA, October 2019 *Each year runs from 1 Jan to 31 Dec ** PPTS 2015 definition

11 Development to Date

The SWC will update annually the supply of deliverable sites, with a rolling five-year cumulative requirement for pitches, set against a rolling five-year delivery of pitches.

When planning permissions are granted for permanent pitches through the development management process they will contribute towards the required 5-year land supply.

Since 1 Jan 2019 planning permission has been granted for 21 new pitches 2 (all in Wychavon) – these count towards meeting the need for pitches in Wychavon.

Table 3 below indicates the outstanding need for the SWDP plan period to 2030 taking into account planning permissions granted.

Table 3 Outstanding need for Traveller pitches and Travelling Showpeople Plots

Tolerated Sites

It is suggested that the existing tolerated sites are allocated in the TTS DPD notwithstanding that they do not have planning permission as they have been in existence for many years and are not considered to cause any planning harm. The tolerated sites are all in Wychavon and are:

 The Gravel, Lineholt: 2 pitches,

 The Orchards, Knowle hill, Evesham: 2 pitches, and

 Sands Lane, Badsey: 2 pitches.

The inclusion of these tolerated sites will in effect increase supply by 6 pitches but without actually physically increasing the number of pitches on any of the sites. This would reduce the requirement from 58 pitches to 52 pitches for the period to 2030.

Call for Sites

The call for sites was advertised on the SWDP website and contact was made with owners of existing authorised sites, sites with temporary planning permission, tolerated sites, unauthorised developments and caravan parks.

2 Up to 21 January 2021

12 17 sites were submitted during the first call for sites in February / March 2015. In addition, the potential suitability of the only Traveller site in south Worcestershire (at Crossway Green), which had temporary planning permission and no conditions limiting the site to named individuals, was also assessed.

21 sites were submitted to the second call for sites in Nov 2016 to Jan 2017. In addition, three sites which were either located within the proposed urban extensions or on sites beyond the urban extensions in lieu of sites on the urban extensions were also assessed.

10 sites were submitted to the latest call for sites in Oct/Nov 2020.

The full list of sites submitted to the councils is available in a separate Site Assessment Background Report available on the SWDP website at (new link)

It was made clear that any sites submitted in the call for sites exercise, together with those proposed for the urban extensions, would be assessed for their suitability against the criteria in SWDP17 and other good practice guidance, and then subject to public consultation, in order to determine which sites may be identified for allocation in this DPD.

In addition, Council owned land across south Worcestershire and sites submitted to the SHELAA for housing and/or employment within 800m of Malvern, Tenbury Wells, Upton upon Severn or Cat 1 village in Malvern Hills were also assessed. None were found to be suitable, available and deliverable.

Preferred Options Consultations

There have been 2 previous Preferred Options consultation - March / April 2016 and March/April 2018. Comments received from those consultations have been considered in the preparation of this latest Preferred Options.

The SWC have not discounted the possibility of other sites coming forward during the preparation of this DPD or through approvals of planning applications.

Site Selection Process

The Site Assessment Background Report (add link) explains the assessment process which included a 2 stage desk-based assessment of the submitted sites. Sites which did not satisfy 1 or more of the essential criteria were rejected. Essential criteria included within 800m of a town, cat 1, 2 or 3 village, suitable and safe access, not on land liable to flood, not within Green Belt, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or significant Gap and not causing harm to Heritage or biodiversity assets.

The remaining sites were also assessed against ‘desirable’ criteria to determine their distance from e.g. schools, shops and doctors surgeries – but this was for information and to prioritise more sustainably located sites in the event of a choice of potential sites.

The Site Assessment Criteria and detailed considerations are summarised in Appendix 2.

13 3. Proposed Site Allocations

Following the detailed assessment of all of the sites listed in the Site Assessment Background Report the following 4 sites meet, or have the potential to meet, the essential site suitability criteria and are proposed as potentially deliverable sites. These are listed in Table 4 below.

A copy of the Site Assessment Background Report is available on the SWDP website at (add link)

Further information is provided on each of the 4 sites in Appendix 3.

Table 4 – New/extended Traveller sites

Site Name and Location District New site or Proposed Extension to Number of or Additional intensification Permanent of Existing Pitches Site Hillbee Farm, Welland Road, Upton upon Malvern Hills Existing: 3 Severn Intensification The Orchard, Knowle Hill, Evesham Wychavon Existing: 5* Extension Blossom Hill, Village St, Aldington Wychavon Existing: 2 Extension Hughes Barn, Bretforton Rd, Badsey Wychavon New 6 Total 16 *including the 2 Tolerated pitches

The SWC will update annually the supply of deliverable sites, with a rolling five-year cumulative requirement for pitches, set against a rolling five-year delivery of pitches. When planning permissions are granted through the development management process, these will contribute towards meeting the required 5-year land supply.

14 Specific Consultation Questions

Travelling Showpeople

The GTAA (Oct 2019) identifies that 8 plots are required for the period from 2019 to 2030

Question 1 There have not been any suggested sites for Travelling Showpeople plots and therefore it is proposed that the SWC work with the Showman’s Guild to identify a suitable site. Do you agree with this approach?

If no, please give your reasons.

Transit Sites

Question 2 The GTAA (Oct 2019) suggests that no new transit pitches are required because of the toleration policy operating across Worcestershire. Do you agree with this approach?

If no, please give your reasons.

Proposed Deliverable Traveller Pitches (first 5 years)

Question 3 Do you have any comments on the suitability of increasing the number of pitches (by 3 pitches) at the existing Traveller site at Hillbee Farm in Upton upon Severn?

Question 4 Do you have any comments on the suitability of increasing the number of pitches at the existing Traveller site by 5 pitches (to include the 2 Tolerated pitches) at The Orchard, Knowle Hill in Evesham?

Question 5 Do you have any comments on the suitability of increasing the number of pitches (by 2 pitches) by extending the existing Traveller site at Blossom Hill, Village Street in Aldington?

Question 6 Do you have any comments on the suitability of land at Hughes Barn, Bretforton Rd, Badsey as a potential new permanent Traveller site for 6 pitches?

Meeting the Need for Developable Pitches and Plots (years 6 to 10)

The Government’s Planning Policy for Traveller Sites says that local planning authorities should identify a supply of specific, developable sites or broad locations for growth, for years’ six to ten.

Question 7 The SWDPR will include Traveller Site Allocations for the new settlements at Worcestershire Parkway, Rushwick and Throckmorton Airfield. Worcestershire Parkway shall include 2 Traveller sites and Rushwick Expanded Settlement and Throckmorton Airfield Strategic Allocation shall both include 1 Traveller site. Each site to be around 10 pitches. Do you agree with this approach?

If no, please give reasons.

15 Broad locations for growth are shown on Figure 1, which shows areas within 800 metres (the recognised threshold beyond which it is very unlikely people would walk to access a service) of a town or Category 1, 2 or 3 settlement excluding land within either the Green Belt or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (in accordance with the Site Assessment Methodology and reflecting SWDP 17Ci). In the ten year period, April 2007 to March 2017, 66 Traveller pitches were granted consent in South Worcestershire within 800 metres of towns or Category 1, 2 or 3 settlements. It therefore seems reasonable to assume that further windfall sites will come forward within or on the edge of towns or Category 1, 2 or 3 settlements through the development management process to meet any outstanding need in the period to 2027. Windfall development proposals will be assessed in accordance with the criteria in Policy SWDP17 and the policies in the emerging SWDPR.

Figure 1: Broad Locations for the Growth of Sites for Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

Question 8 Do you agree with this approach of identifying broad locations of growth?

If no, please give reasons.

16 4. Other Planning Issues

Tenure of New Pitches and Plots

There is a waiting list for social rented pitches for Travellers who are unable afford to purchase a pitch, therefore ideally a mixture of private and socially-rented sites should be provided.

In the previous Preferred Options consultations respondents indicated that there could be difficulties in assessing applicant’s incomes and establishing discounted market values for pitches.

Question on Tenure

Question 9 Do you have any suggestions as to how the SWC can encourage the provision of socially rented pitches?

Nomadic Habit of Life

The Government’s Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (August 2015) says that in determining whether persons are Gypsies and Travellers for the purposes of planning policy, consideration should be given to the following issues amongst other relevant matters:

The Government has not provided guidance on how long someone would need to cease travelling, or in what circumstances, before they are no longer classed as a Traveller for the purposes of planning policy. Currently, there is also no Government guidance for councils on the criteria that they should use to assess whether Gypsies and Travellers live a nomadic lifestyle.

In the previous Preferred Options consultations respondents suggested information could be sought from applicants on their working locations over the previous 5 years and how long the Travellers are away from the site.

Question about Nomadic Habit of Life

Question 10 When determining planning applications the SWC will have to assess whether persons are Gypsies and Travellers for the purposes of planning policy. Do you have any suggestions about how the SWC should assess whether Gypsies and Travellers are leading or have permanently ceased their nomadic habit of life?

If yes, please provide suggestions.

General

In the previous Preferred Options consultations respondents indicated that the distribution of existing Traveller sites is not reflected equally across Worcestershire and therefore does not enable Travellers to live in other areas; sites are over concentrated in certain areas with no

17 apparent upper limit; Travellers should become more involved in local life; if sites are too large they lead to more friction between local and travelling communities.

Question 11 Are there any other comments you wish to make about this Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Revised Preferred Options Document?

18 5. Next Steps

The timetable for the preparation of the TTS DPD is outlined in each of the SWC Local Development Schemes, published in November 2019.

The proposed timetable for the development of the TTS DPD is summarised as follows:

Stage Timetable Commencement September 2014 Preferred Options Consultations May – June 2016 (Regulation 18) February - April 2018 March/April 2021

Publication Sept/October 2021 (Regulation 19) Submission April 2022 (Regulation 22) Independent Examination May/June 2022 (Regulation 24) Precise dates of examination hearing sessions will be determined by the Inspector Receipt of Inspector’s Report June 2022 (Regulation 25) Adoption July 2022 (Regulation 26)

The next stage in the process will be for the SWC to consider and assess responses to the latest Preferred Options consultation.

A Draft DPD will then be prepared, including the recommended final site allocations. The Draft DPD will be consulted on at the Publication stage in Sept/October 2021, the Draft DPD, together with the representations received on it, will be submitted to the Secretary of State in April 2022.

An Examination in Public will follow and the Inspector will then publish their report. Subject to the Plan being found sound it will then be adopted.

19 Appendix 1

Glossary

Authorised Site: A site with planning permission for use as a Traveller or Travelling Showpeople site. These sites can be private or Council-owned. Most authorised sites in south Worcestershire are permanent, but they can sometimes be temporary (see ‘Temporary Sites’). Call for Sites: The way in which the councils give the public an opportunity to suggest sites for potential Traveller or Travelling Showpeople development. Respondents filled out a form with the details of the suggested site which was then considered by the councils. Caravans : Mobile living vehicles - includes touring caravans. Section 29 (1) of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 Act defines a caravan as ‘any structure designed or adapted for human habitation which is capable of being moved from one place to another (whether by being towed, or by being transported on a motor vehicle or trailer) and any motor vehicle so designed or adapted’.

Category 1, 2 and 3 Settlements : The results of the Village Facilities and Rural Public Transport Survey (2019) enabled a hierarchy of settlements to be ranked according to their sustainability and access to local services. Category 1 settlements have at least four key services in the Village Facilities Survey. Category 2 settlements have at least two key services including a shop and have access to at least daily public transport services for employment and shopping purposes. Category 3 settlements have at least one key service (other than a parish / village hall) and have access within the settlement to at least a daily bus service to a “designated town”. DCLG : Department for Communities and Local Government. Government department responsible for making the planning system work efficiently and effectively, including planning for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. Development Plan : A document setting out the local planning authority's policies and proposals for the development and use of land and buildings in the authority’s area. This includes adopted Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans. The Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations DPD will be one of the Local Plans that form part of the Development Plan for south Worcestershire. Green Infrastructure : Green Infrastructure and Green Space are the network of green spaces that intersperse and connect our cities, towns and villages, providing multiple benefits for environment, economy and communities. The components of Green Infrastructure and Green Space include biodiversity, landscape, historic environment, access and recreation and water. Gypsies and Travellers : Defined by DCLG Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (August 2015) as “persons of nomadic habit of life whatever their race or origin, including such persons who on grounds only of their own or their family’s or dependants’ educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily, but excluding members of an organised group of Travelling Showpeople or circus people travelling together as such”. When determining whether persons are “gypsies and travellers”, Planning Policy for Traveller Sites says that “consideration should be given to the following issues amongst other relevant matters - whether they previously led a nomadic habit of life, the reasons for ceasing their nomadic habit of life, and whether there is an intention of living a nomadic habit of life in the future, and if so, how soon and in what circumstances.” Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA): This was a study carried out for the six Worcestershire districts to assess the need for additional Gypsy, Traveller and

20 Travelling Showpeople accommodation in the County, including the SWC. The Worcestershire GTAA was published in November 2014. Mobile Home : Legally a caravan but not normally capable of being moved by towing, may also be known as a ‘trailer’, ‘static caravan’ or ‘chalet’. National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) : NPPF sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. Perpetuity : For all time, for eternity, for always. Pitch : Area of land on a Gypsy/Traveller site required to accommodate one household and their caravans, parking space and enough room for turning vehicles. There is no ‘one-size fits all’ measurement for a pitch; as with standard housing, this depends on the size of individual families and their particular needs. Plot : A piece of land of unspecified size which accommodates Travelling Showpeople’s caravans, trailers, mobile homes and sometimes equipment. This terminology differentiates between residential pitches for Gypsies and Travellers and mixed-use plots for Travelling Showpeople, which will need to incorporate space or be split to allow for the storage of equipment such as fairground rides. These areas used for storage are also called ‘yards’. Site : An area of land where Gypsy/Travellers live. These can be privately owned (often by particular families) or socially rented (where the site is owned by a council or registered social landlord). A site may consist of a single pitch, or may have a number of pitches and be home to several families/households. Stopping places : A term used to denote an unauthorised temporary camping area tolerated by local authorities, used by Gypsies and Travellers for short-term encampments, and sometimes with the provision of temporary toilet facilities, water supplies and refuse collection services. Temporary Site : This is an authorised site that has been granted temporary planning permission. At the end of the specified time period (usually between 2-4 years, defined by a planning condition) the use of the site must cease and the site should be restored to its former condition. Tolerated site : An unauthorised encampment/site where a local authority has decided not to take enforcement action to seek its removal. Transit site : A permanent site intended for short-term temporary use by Travellers on the move. The site is usually permanent and authorised, but there is a limit on the length of time residents can stay. Travelling Showpeople : Defined by DCLG Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (August 2015) as “Members of a group organised for the purposes of holding fairs, circuses or shows (whether or not travelling together as such). This includes such persons who on the grounds of their own or their family’s or dependants’ more localised pattern of trading, educational or health needs or old age have ceased to travel temporarily, but excludes Gypsies and Travellers as defined above”. Turnover rate : Indicates the number of pitches available annually due to turnover of stock. Turnover enables existing stock to absorb current and future households considered in need. Unauthorised Encampment : Land where Gypsies or Travellers reside in vehicles or tents without permission. Unauthorised encampments can occur in a variety of locations (roadside, car parks, parks, fields, etc.) and constitute trespass. The 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act made it a criminal offence to camp on land without the owner’s consent. Unauthorised encampments fall into two main categories: those on land owned by local authorities and those on privately owned land. It is up to the land owner to take enforcement action in conjunction with the Police.

21 Unauthorised Development : Establishment of Gypsy and Traveller sites without planning permission, usually on land owned by those establishing the site. Unauthorised development may involve ground works for roadways and hard standings. People parking caravans on their own land without planning permission are not classed as Unauthorised Encampments in that they cannot trespass on their own land – they are therefore Unauthorised Developments and enforcement is always dealt with by Local Planning Authorities enforcing planning legislation.

22 Appendix 2

Site Assessment Criteria and Detailed Considerations

The full list of sites submitted to the councils is available in a separate Site Assessment Background Report available on the SWDP website at (new link)

The following essential and desirable site criteria are based on:

 Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (DCLG, 2015)  SWDP Policy SWDP17  Good Practice Guide: Designing Gypsy and Traveller Sites (DCLG, 2008, cancelled in August 2015), and  General preferences of the Travelling community, based on published reports and the Worcestershire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA)

The site assessment methodology differentiates between ‘essential’ criterion which must be satisfied if a site is to be acceptable and ‘desirable’ criterion which are important sustainability criteria, but may not be essential for a site to be acceptable.

Essential Site Criteria

Availability  Whether the landowner is willing to sell or is interested in developing the site for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeop le purposes . Suitability Physical  Whether the site is within, or on the edge of 3, a town or Constraints Category 1, 2 or 3 settlement 4 or within a proposed urban extension.  Whether the site is outside Flood Zone 1 or vulnerable to surface water flooding.  Whether the site is located on relatively flat and stable land.  Whether the site is affected by contamination which cannot be mitigated.  Whether the site has safe and convenient access to the public highway . Environmental,  Whether the site is within an International (Special Protection Historic or Area, Special Area of Conservation or Ramsar) or National Landscape planning designation (Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Constraints National Nature Reserves, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Ancient Woodlands, Veteran Trees, Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Registered Historic Parks and Gardens, Listed Buildings) .  Whether there are any local designations affecting the site

3 ‘On the edge of’ equates to 800m from the development boundary – in this case the distance is measured along the road network and is not a radius measurement from the site. 4 Category 1, 2 and 3 Settlements - The results of the Village Facilities and Rural (Public) Transport Survey enabled a hierarchy of settlements to be ranked according to their sustainability and access to local services. Category 1 settlements have at least four key services in the Village Facilities Survey. Category 2 settlements have at least two key services including a shop and have access to at least daily bus services for employment and shopping purposes. Category 3 settlements have at least one key service (other than a parish / village hall) and have access within the settlement to at least a daily bus service to a “designated town”.

23 (including Local Nature Reserves, Local Wildlife Sites, Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation, Local Geological Sites, Local Heritage Assets, Conservation Areas, Local Green Space, Tree Preservation Orders).  Whether the site is within the Green Belt 5.  Whether the site falls within a Significant Gap.  Whether there are any known protected species or habitats recognised in the Biodiversity Action Plan on the site . Potential impacts  Whether there is any likely adverse visual impact which cannot be adequately minimised.  Whether there is likely to be any adverse impact on privacy and residential amenity for both site residents and neighbouring land uses which cannot be mitigated.  Whether the site (and possible number of caravans stationed) respects the scale of, and would not dominate, the nearest settled community.  Whether there is likely to be any adverse impact from noise for both site residents and neighbouring land uses which cannot be mitigated . Achievability  Whether the site is likely to be capable of providing adequate on-site services for water supply, mains electricity, waste disposal and foul and surface water drainage - or whether there are any likely abnormal costs which would prejudice the ability of the site from being developed.

Proposed Desirable Sustainability Criteria

Suitability Sustainability  Whether the site is accessible by walking, cycling and public Criteria transport to local services and facilities including shops, schools and health facilities.  Whether the site would be an extension to or intensification of an existing serviced site.  Whether the site would be on previously developed land.  Whether the site would have an adverse impact on the Green Infrastructure and Green Space as identified in SWDP 5.

5 An exceptional limited alteration to the Green Belt boundary would be required for such a site to be considered (DCLG (2015) Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (DCLG, 2015))

Appendix 3

Proposed Site Allocations for Traveller and Travelling Showpeople

To meet the need for the deliverable permanent residential Traveller pitches in the first 5 years the SWC propose that new or additional pitches be allocated at 4 existing or new sites. The location of the proposed deliverable sites is shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

Location of Proposed Deliverable and Developable Sites 6 (to be updated)

Details of the each of the sites suggested to accommodate the new pithes are given below.

25 Site at Hillbee Farm, Welland Road, Upton upon Severn

Potential Pitch Provision: 3 additional pitches

 The site has been identified by the landowner as being available for Traveller use.  It is an existing authorised Traveller site with planning permission for 2 caravans.  The site is located 450 metres from Tunnel Hill and comprises a paddock with a static mobile home and hard standing for a touring caravan. Adjacent uses include mainly farmland as well as 7 residential properties within 50 metres from the site.  The site is relatively flat and not affected by flooding.  There are no international or national planning designations affecting the site. The site would not have a significant impact on local designations that cannot be mitigated.  The site takes access from A4104 within a 40mph speed limit. The highway authority have indicated that they would need evidence that an appropriate level of visibility could be provided for the actual traffic speeds on the road and would also require alterations to the access so that vehicles could make the left turn out of the site without crossing onto the far side of the carriageway.  The existing site is well screened and intensification of the site is unlikely to have a significant impact on the landscape.  There are seven residential properties within 50 metres of the site but the impact on the residential amenity for the site residents or neighbouring properties is unlikely to be significant because of existing screening.  The site has, and is capable of providing, on-site services for water supply, mains electricity, waste disposal and foul and surface water drainage.  The site has good access to health services and schools in Upton upon Severn.

26 Site at The Orchard, Knowle Hill, Evesham

Potential Pitch Provision: 5 pitches (including 2 Tolerated pitches)

 The site has been identified by the landowner as being available for Traveller use.

 This is an existing Traveller site with planning permission for 1 mobile home and 2 tolerated pitches. The site is located 300 metres from Evesham. Adjacent uses include farmland and woodland as well as residential properties approximately 120 metres from the site, but on a slope overlooking the site.

 The site is relatively flat and not affected by flooding.

 There are no international or national planning designations affecting the site. The site would not have a significant impact on local designations that cannot be mitigated.

 The site is considered to have safe access to the highway .

 The existing site is well screened to the west and along its eastern extremity there is a woodland which is on land that slopes up from the site. However, additional planting would be required along the other boundaries to reduce the impact on the landscape. There are approximately 8 residential properties within 200 metres of the site. Although the impact on the residential amenity for the site residents or neighbouring properties is unlikely to be significant because of existing screening, but additional planting would be beneficial.

 It is not proposed that the whole of the site would be used to accommodate new pitches but to concentrate them on the western half of the site close to the existing pitches this would help to ensure that the size of the site and the number of pitches are of an appropriate scale for the location.

 The site has on-site services for water supply, mains electricity, waste disposal and foul and surface water drainage.

 The site is approximately 1800 metres from Bengeworth Primary School.

27 Site at Blossom Hill, Village St, Aldington

Potential Pitch Provision: 2 additional pitches

 The site has been identified by the landowner as being available for Traveller use.

 This is site is adjacent to two existing authorised Traveller sites with planning permission for 6 pitches in total.

 The site is located 150 metres from Aldington and 370m from Badsey. Adjacent uses include farmland as well as residential properties approximately 130 metres from the site but the impact on the residential amenity for both the site residents and neighbouring properties could be mitigated by additional planting.

 The site is on a slope rising up from the road but appears relatively stable and is not affected by flooding.

 There are no international or national planning designations affecting the site. The site is within 100m of a Special Wildlife Site – Littleton and Badsey Brook and tributaries but the site would not have a significant impact on local designations that cannot be mitigated.

 The site is considered to have the potential for safe access to the highway.

 Given the four existing plots on the adjacent existing site and the two additional consented plots, it is not considered that a further additional 2 plots to the rear (western half) of the proposed site would have a significant additional landscape impact. They would be in the least visible part of the site as a whole.

 There are approximately 14 residential properties within 200 metres of the site.

 The size of the site and the number of pitches in conjunction with the neighbouring sites are considered to be of an appropriate scale for the location.

 The neighbouring site has on-site services for water supply, mains electricity, waste disposal and foul and surface water drainage and therefore it is assumed that the expanded site is capable of providing the same.

 The site is within 100 metres of a bus stop and 1,330 metres of a primary school in Badsey.

28 Site at Hughes Barn, Bretforton Rd, Badsey

Potential Pitch Provision: 6 new pitches

 The site has been identified by the landowner as being available for Traveller use.

 This is site is adjacent to an existing authorised Traveller sites with planning permission for 3 pitches in total.

 The site is located 420 metres from Badsey and 600m from Bretforton. Adjacent uses include farmland and a traveller site. The nearest residential dwelling is approximately 170m form the site.

 The site is flat and open to the west and south has an existing access which is shared with the neighbouring traveller site.

 There are no international or national planning designations affecting the site.

 The size of the site and the number of pitches is considered to be of an appropriate scale for the location.

 The neighbouring site has on-site services for water supply, mains electricity, waste disposal and foul and surface water drainage and therefore it is assumed that the same could be provided for this new site.

 The site is within 170 metres of a bus stop, 1.2km of a shop and 1.1km of a primary school in Bretforton.

South Worcestershire Traveller and Travelling Showpeople

Site Allocations Development Plan Document

Further Revised Site Assessment Background Report

January 2021

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Background

The Government’s Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (August 2015) states that local planning authorities should, in producing their Local Plan “identify and update annually, a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide five years’ worth of sites against their locally set targets”. Further, Local Plans should “ identify a supply of specific, developable sites or broad locations for growth, for years six to ten and, where possible, for years 11-15”.

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites says that to be deliverable, sites should:

 Be available now,

 Offer a suitable location for development now, and

 Be achievable with a realistic prospect that housing will be delivered on the site within five years and in particular that development on the site is viable.

To be considered developable, sites should be in a suitable location for Traveller site development and there should be a reasonable prospect that the site is available and could be viably developed at the point envisaged.

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites also says that “ criteria should be set to guide land supply allocations where there is identified need. Where there is no identified need, criteria-based policies should be included to provide a basis for decisions in case applications nevertheless come forward. Criteria based policies should be fair and should facilitate the traditional and nomadic life of travellers while respecting the interests of the settled community ”.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to set out the methodology for assessing the broad suitability of potential sites for Travellers and Travelling Showpeople to inform proposed allocations in the South Worcestershire Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Document.

The methodology has been designed to be consistent with national planning policy, Policy SWDP17 in the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP) and good practice on designing Gypsy and Traveller sites. SWDP17 includes criteria against which planning applications for Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites will be assessed.

It should be noted that the recommended shortlisting of a potential site using the methodology in this document does not imply that an application for development would be granted planning permission. The Draft Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Allocations Development Plan Document will be subject to public consultation and independent examination. Any planning application would also be considered on its merits and against the relevant Development Plan policies operating at the time.

Other land assessed for potential to use for Travellers site The use of council owned land was also investigated for use as a Traveller site – but none was suitable, available and deliverable.

In addition, there was some concern that insufficient Traveller sites would come forward within Malvern Hills district and therefore sites submitted for housing and/or employment to

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the Call for Sites for the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR), which lay within 800m of Malvern, Tenbury Wells, Upton-upon-Severn or Malvern’s Category 1 villages, were assessed for their suitability as a Traveller site. They were assessed against the same criteria as the other sites in this document and approximately 30 were identified as having potential as a Traveller site allocation. The landowners and/or agents of these sites were then contacted to establish whether they supported a Traveller allocation on their land. None agreed to this and therefore no sites from this exercise have been suggested as Preferred Options.

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Identifying Potential Sites for Travellers and Travelling Showpeople – Key Considerations

National and Local Designations

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites states that local planning authorities, in producing their Local Plan, should “protect local amenity and the environment ” (paragraph 10). Sites would not be considered appropriate within International (e.g. Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservation and Ramsar sites), National (e.g. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserves) or Local (e.g. Conservation Areas, Local Green Spaces) designations because the objectives of the designation are likely to be compromised by the development of a Gypsy, Traveller or Travelling Showpeople site.

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites also says that “Traveller sites (temporary or permanent) in the Green Belt are inappropriate development. Subject to the best interests of the child, personal circumstances and unmet need are unlikely to clearly outweigh harm to the Green Belt and any other harm so as to establish very special circumstances ” (paragraph 16). Significant Gaps perform a similar function to Green Belts in preventing a coalescence of settlements. Planning permission would only be granted for development in a Significant Gap if it was considered appropriate to a rural area and had no demonstrably adverse effect on the open and essentially undeveloped character of the area.

Access to Services

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites indicates that local authorities should identify sites with good access to health services and ensure that children can attend school on a regular basis (paragraphs 4 and 13).

The Good Practice Guide on Designing Gypsy and Traveller Sites (published by DCLG in 2008, cancelled in August 2015) also highlighted the importance of local community services and facilities being within easy access from the site by a variety of modes of transport. Although cancelled and not yet replaced by a more up to date version, the guidance is still considered useful in its coverage of good design for Traveller sites.

In addition, there should be safe and convenient vehicular and pedestrian access and sites should be easily accessed by towing caravans.

Relationship to Surrounding Land Uses

The Government is keen to promote a peaceful and integrated co-existence between a Gypsy, Traveller or Travelling Showpeople site and the local settled community.

The Good Practice Guide stated that “ where possible, sites should be developed near to housing for the settled community as part of mainstream residential developments”. Planning Policy for Traveller Sites also says that local planning authorities “should consider, wherever possible, including Traveller sites suitable for mixed residential and business uses, having regard to the safety and amenity of the occupants and neighbouring residents ” (paragraph 18).

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites states that local planning authorities should “ very strictly limit new Traveller site development in open countryside that is away from existing settlements … ” (paragraph 25). Local planning authorities should also “ ensure that sites in rural areas respect the scale of, and do not dominate the nearest settled community, and

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avoid placing an undue pressure on local infrastructure ” (paragraph 25). Also, “ when assessing the suitability of sites in rural and semi-rural settings, local planning authorities should ensure that the scale of such sites does not dominate the nearest settled community ” (paragraph 14).

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites identifies the need “ for proper consideration of the effect of local environmental quality (such as noise and air quality) on the health and well-being of any Travellers that may locate there or on others as a result of new development ” (paragraph 13). The Good Practice Guide suggested that this will include consideration of noise and possible disturbance to residents living on the site, and possible noise and disturbance to the wider community, in particular from movement of Traveller or Travelling Showpeople vehicles. Noise and disturbance from adjoining uses, such as from industrial areas, railway lines or from highways, should also be considered given the greater noise transference through walls of caravans than through the walls of conventional housing.

The Good Practice Guide emphasised the importance of locating Traveller sites away from heavy industry and stated that locations adjacent to industrial areas are unpopular because of their relative isolation, distance from local facilities and because of safety fears.

The Good Practice Guide also suggested that sites should provide visual and acoustic privacy and have characteristics which are sympathetic to the local environment. When selecting locations for permanent sites, consideration needs to be given to the relatively high density of children likely to be on the site.

Site Conditions

Planning Policy for Traveller Sites states that sites should not be located “in areas at high risk of flooding, including functional floodplains, given the particular vulnerability of caravans ” (paragraph 13).

The Good Practice Guide also said that a site must be relatively flat and suitable for purpose. Sites should not be developed on exposed sloping sites where there is risk of caravans being overturned or where there is a high probability of flooding risk.

Brownfield (previously developed) and derelict land may be suitable.

Essential Services

The Good Practice Guide stated that it is essential that sites have access to water, electricity, drainage and sanitation. Sewerage for permanent sites should normally be through mains systems. However, in some locations this may not always be possible and in that case suitable alternative arrangements should be made, for example a biodisc sewage plant system.

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Site Suitability Criteria

The following essential and desirable site criteria are based on:

 Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (DCLG, 2015)

 South Worcestershire Development Plan Policy SWDP17

 Good Practice Guide: Designing Gypsy and Traveller Sites (DCLG, 2008, cancelled in August 2015), and

 General preferences of the Travelling community, based on published reports and the Worcestershire Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA)

The site assessment methodology differentiates between “essential” criterion which must be satisfied if a site is to be acceptable and “desirable” criterion which are important sustainability criteria, but may not be essential for a site to be acceptable.

Essential Site Criteria

Availability  Whether the landowner is willing to sell or is interested in developing the site for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople purposes Suitability Physical  Whether the site is within, or on the edge of 1, a town or Constraints Category 1, 2 or 3 settlement 2 or within a proposed urban extension  Whether the site is outside Flood Zone 1 or vulnerable to surface water flooding  Whether the site is located on relatively flat and stable land  Whether the site is affected by contamination which cannot be mitigated  Whether the site has safe and convenient access to the public highway Environmental,  Whether the site is within an International (Special Protection Historic or Area, Special Area of Conservation or Ramsar) or National Landscape planning designation (Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Constraints National Nature Reserves, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Ancient Woodlands, Veteran Trees, Scheduled Monuments, Registered Historic Parks and Gardens, Listed

1 On the edge of’ equates to within 800m (driving distance) from the development boundary. 2 Category 1, 2 and 3 Settlements – A new Village Facilities and Rural (Public) Transport Survey was published in Sept 2019 and enabled a hierarchy of settlements to be ranked according to their sustainability and access to local services. Category 1 settlements have at least four key services in the Village Facilities Survey and access to all daytime journey types. Category 2 settlements have at least two key services and have access to at least daily services for employment and shopping purposes. Category 3 settlements have at least one key service (other than a parish / village hall) and have access within the settlement to at least a daily bus service to a “designated town”, or three of the daytime journey types. https://www.wychavon.gov.uk/south-worcestershire-development-plan/swdp-review/swdp-review-evidence-base/village- facilities-and-rural-transport-study

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Buildings)  Whether there are any local designations affecting the site (including Local Nature Reserves, Local Wildlife Sites, Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation, Local Geological Sites, Local Heritage Assets, Conservation Areas, Local Green Space, Tree Preservation Orders)  Whether the site is within the Green Belt 3  Whether the site falls within a Significant Gap  Whether there are any known protected species or habitats recognised in the Biodiversity Action Plan on the site Potential impacts  Whether there is any likely adverse visual impact which cannot be adequately minimised  Whether there is likely to be a significant adverse impact on privacy and residential amenity for either site residents or neighbouring property which cannot be mitigated  Whether the site (and possible number of caravans stationed), and cumulatively with any existing sites, respects the scale of, and would not dominate, the nearest settled community  Whether there is likely to be any adverse impact from noise for both site residents and neighbouring land uses which cannot be mitigated Achievability  Whether the site is likely to be capable of providing adequate on-site services for water supply, mains electricity, waste disposal and foul and surface water drainage - or whether there are any likely abnormal costs which would prejudice the ability of the site from being developed

Proposed Desirable Sustainability Criteria

Suitability Sustainability  Whether the site is accessible by walking, cycling and public Criteria transport to local services and facilities including shops, schools and health facilities  Whether the site would be on previously developed land  Whether the site would have an adverse impact on the Green Infrastructure as defined in SWDP 5 which could not be mitigated 4

3 An exceptional limited alteration to the Green Belt boundary would be required for such a site to be considered suitable (Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (DCLG, 2015))

4 Green Infrastructure is the network of green spaces that intersperse and connect our cities, towns and villages, providing multiple benefits for environment, economy and communities. The components of Green Infrastructure include biodiversity, landscape, historic environment, access and recreation and water.

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Assessment Process

A traffic light approach was adopted, identifying sites which do not satisfy criteria in red, where criteria may be capable of being satisfied in amber and where criteria are satisfied in green.

Essential Criteria Designation / Issue Red Amber Green

Availability Promoted sites, Owner has Site availability Evidence that public land confirmed that is unknown and landowner willing ownership, etc site is not requires further to sell or develop available, nor is investigation the site for it likely to be Traveller or available in the Travelling future Showpeople purposes Within, or on the Near Settled Site is not N/A Would be within edge of a town or Community within 800 800 metres of a Category 1, 2 or 3 metres of a town or Category Settlement or a town or 1, 2 or 3 Proposed Urban Category 1, 2 settlement or Extension or 3 settlement within proposed or within urban extension proposed urban extension Flood Risk Environment Agency Site is within Site is affected The site is not Indicative Flood Flood Zone 3 by Flood Zones affected by Mapping 1 and/or 2 identified areas of and SFRA requiring site indicative flood FRA (and mapping or is application of located in sequential tests) Flood Zone 1 Contaminated Contaminated Land On On Not on Land Register contaminated contaminated contaminated land which land which could land cannot be be mitigated mitigated Topography Stable location On steep slope Land appears Relatively flat and or unstable land relatively flat or stable land stable land, requiring further investigation Safe & County Council / Site does not Site has or could Site appears to Convenient Highways Authority have or could have access to be able to Access not have public highway accommodate convenient / but requires safe and safe access to further convenient highway investigation access on to the about safety public highway International SPA, Site covered by Site within the The site is not Designation SAC an International buffer of an within an Ramsar sites designation and International International purpose of the designation and designation or its designation purpose of the buffer likely to be designation compromised could be compromised National AONB The site is The site is The site is not Designation SSSI affected by a affected by a affected by or

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National Nature national national immediately Reserves designation and designation or adjacent to any Scheduled the purpose of immediately national Monuments the designation adjacent to a designations. Listed Buildings is likely to be nationally Ancient Woodland compromised designated site, Veteran Trees by the site. and the purpose Historic Parks and of the Gardens designation could be compromised. Local Conservation Areas The site is The site is in The site is not Designations Local Wildlife Sites covered by a close proximity affected by, or Local Nature local of local immediately Reserves designation and designation and adjacent to, any Sites of Importance the purpose of could local designation. for Nature the designation compromise the Conservation likely to be purpose of the Local Geological compromised designation, Sites requiring further Local Heritage investigation of Assets mitigatory Local Green Space measures. Tree Preservation Orders H&SE hazardous installations/pipelines Sewage Works - Cordon Sanitaire

Priority Species Biodiversity Action The site is The site is No known BAP and Habitats Plan known to home known to home species or priority species or be near habitats on the or habitats known BAP site or in close which would be species or proximity adversely habitats, but affected by mitigatory development measures can be proposed Green Belt Green Belt Site is within Site is within the Site is not within the Green Belt Green Belt but the Green Belt and no exceptional exceptional circumstances circumstances may exist exist Significant Gap Significant Gap Site is within a Site could have Site not within Significant Gap a negative Significant Gap and the impact on the purpose of purpose of designation Significant Gap likely to be designation, compromised requiring further investigation Residential Residential Amenity Adverse impact May be adverse Unlikely to be Amenity / and Neighbouring on privacy and impact on significant Neighbouring Land Uses residential privacy and adverse impact Land Uses amenity for residential on privacy and both site amenity for both residential residents and / site residents amenity for both or neighbouring and / or site residents and

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land uses which neighbouring neighbouring land could not be land uses which uses mitigated could be mitigated Capable of On- On-Site Services for Site not May be capable Site capable of Site Services water supply, mains capable of of providing providing electricity, waste providing adequate on-site adequate on-site disposal and foul and adequate on- services for services for water surface water site services for water supply, supply, mains drainage water supply, mains electricity, electricity, waste mains waste disposal disposal and foul electricity, and foul and and surface water waste disposal surface water drainage and foul and drainage, surface water requiring further drainage investigation Desirable Criteria Issue Red Amber Green

Distance to Shop Walking distance up Not applicable Site not within Site within 800 to 800 metres 800 metres of a metres of a shop shop Distance to Walking distance up Not applicable Site not within Site within 2,000 Primary School to 2,000 metres 2,000 metres of metres of a a primary school primary school Distance to GP Walking distance up Not applicable Site not within Site within 1,200 to 1,200 metres 1,200 metres of metres of a GP a GP Distance to Walking distance up Not applicable Site not within Site within 800 Public Transport to 800 metres 800 metres of metres of bus (Bus Shop) bus stop stop Previously Brownfield Land Not applicable Not on Would be on Developed Land previously previously developed land developed land Green Green Infrastructure The site is within The site is not Infrastructure an area within an area identified as identified as “protect and “protect and enhance” or enhance” or “protect and “protect and restore” as restore” as identified on the identified on the Environmental Environmental Character Areas Character Areas map in SWDP 5 map in SWDP

The Institute of Highways and Transportation Guidelines for Providing Journeys on Foot (2000) suggests that for facilities such as shops and bus stops, walking distances of up to 800m can be considered, with the desirable and acceptable distances being 200m and 400m. Acceptable walking distances to facilities are defined as those where a high proportion of the trips generated by new development can be conveniently made by public transport, on foot or by bicycle.

Facilities e.g. shops, Commuting/school Other bus stops Desirable 200m 500m 400m Acceptable 400m 1000m 800m

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Preferred Maximum 800m 2000m 1200m

Source: Guidelines for Providing for Journeys on Foot (IHT 2000)

The South Worcestershire Councils consider that sites within 800m (driving distance) of a development boundary of a town or Category 1, 2 or 3 settlements reflects the Institute of Highways and Transportation Guidelines, provides flexibility for Traveller sites to come forward and reflects the intention of Policy SWDP 17Ci.

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Assessment Stages

A staged approach was undertaken to identifying and assessing the suitability of potential sites for inclusion in the Traveller and Travelling Showpeople DPD.

Stage 1: Identification of Potential Land for Site Assessment

The first step in the assessment process was to identify land that may be potentially available for Traveller or Travelling Showpeople use.

It was also made clear that all sites submitted would undergo a rigorous assessment against specific criteria to assess their potential suitability. Submitting a site for consideration was not a guarantee that it would be found suitable or that it would be allocated as part of the emerging DPD. It was also explained that any sites that were included within the DPD would still be required to follow the normal planning procedures in securing planning permission.

Individuals and organisations that were invited to submit sites in the “call for sites” included:

 All Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople households on authorised (permanent and temporary) and unauthorised Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites in south Worcestershire.  All registered caravan parks owners in south Worcestershire.  Public sector landowners, including the District and County Councils and Housing Associations.  Landowners who put land forward for consideration as potential housing allocations in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA).

Additionally, a Press Release was issued to raise awareness so that others might put sites forward if they desired to do so.

First Call for Sites :

17 valid site submissions were received in the first call for sites – which are summarised in Table 1 below. Additionally, the potential suitability of the only Traveller site in south Worcestershire (at Crossway Green), which had temporary planning permission and no conditions limiting the site to named individuals, was also assessed.

Table 1 – Sites Submitted Considered following the first “Call for Sites” (Feb/March 2015)

Site Name and Location District New or Potential For Existing Number Gypsies/Travellers Site of New or or Travelling Additional Showpeople &/or Pitches Transit Use

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Hillbee Farm Malvern Hills Existing 5 Gypsy + Upton Upon Severn Showpeople Haylers End Malvern Hills New 30 Gypsy Hanley Swan Lower Howsell Road Malvern Hills New 20 Gypsy Leigh Sinton Fieldview Malvern Hills Existing 6 Gypsy + Transit Gadfield Elm (near Staunt on) Acton Villa, Acton, Wychavon Existing 5 Gypsy Ombersely Comhampton Lane, Wychavon New 4 Gypsy Dunhampton, Ombersley The Hill, Canada Bank, Wychavon Existing 4 Gypsy Charlton Land known as the Tree Wychavon New 10 Transit Nursery, adj Westwood Way and A38 roundabout, Droitwich Land off Narroway Lane, Wychavon New 3 - 4 Gypsy Crossway Green Land off Waresley Road, Wychavon New 2 Gypsy Hartlebury Torton Paddock, Charlton Wychavon Existing 2 Gypsy Lane, To rton The Orchard, Knowle Hill, Wychavon Existing 7 Gypsy Evesham Seven Acres, Main Rd, Wychavon Existing 3 Gypsy Cro pthorne Orchard View, Evesham Rd, Wychavon Existing 8 - 10 Gypsy Fladbury 8 Evergreen Bank, Main Rd, Wychavon Existing 3 Gypsy Cropthor ne Blossom Hill, Village St, Wychavon Existing 2 Gypsy Aldington Laurel Park, Bredon Wychavon Existing 3 Gypsy Shorthill Caravan Park, Wychavon Existing - 10 Gypsy Crossway Green Temporary 24 Transit

In addition, land at Broomhall Community and Norton Barracks Community (the proposed Worcester South urban extension) and land at Temple Laugherne (the proposed Worcester West urban extension) were also assessed for their suitability for accommodating Traveller sites. To date no land that was suitable, available and deliverable has been identified and off-site contributions towards the provision of new Traveller pitches have been agreed as an alternative for the applications that have been approved so far.

Second Call for Sites:

21 valid site submissions were received in the second call for sites – which are summarised in Table 2 below. The second call for sites included two sites which had previously been submitted in the first call for sites and a site at Baughton that was submitted twice. The second call for sites also included three sites which were either located within the proposed

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urban extensions or on sites beyond the urban extensions in lieu of sites on the urban extensions.

Table 2 – Additional Sites Considered following the second “Call for Sites (Nov 2016 to Jan 2017)

Site Name and Location District New or Potential For Existing Number Gypsies/Travellers Site of New or or Travelling Additional Showpeople &/or Pitche s Transit Use Halfkey Farm, Halfkey Malvern Hills New 170 Gypsy + Showpeople + Transit Mo untain View , Basto nford Malvern Hills Existing 3/4 Gypsy The Paddocks, Newlands Malvern Hills Existing 7 Gypsy Willows End, Guarlford Malvern Hills Existing 3 Gypsy Abbey College, Malvern Malvern Hills New Not stated Gypsy + Wells Showpeople + Transit Main Road, Kempsey 5 Malvern Hills New 10 Travelling Showpeople Baughton View Malvern Hills Existing 12 Gypsy The Dog Inn, Baughton Malvern Hills Existing 10 Gypsy Broomfield, Newnham Malvern Hills Existing 2 Gypsy Bridge Church Meadows Caravan Wychavon New 10 Gypsy Site, Dormston Lane, Dorms ton Ba dsey Road, Aldington Wychavon New 4 Gypsy Blossom Hill, Village St, Wychavon Existing 2 Gypsy Aldington

Seven Acres, Main Rd, Wychavon Existing 3 Gypsy Cropthorne

Land opposite Newlands, Wychavon New 21 Gypsy Evesham Rd, Norton Walnut Place (formerly The Wychavon Existing 20+ Gypsy Caravan), Radford Rd, Rous Lench Orchard View, Main St, Wychavon New 8 Gypsy + Aldington Showpeople Hughes Barn, Bretforton Rd, Wychavon New 8 Gypsy + Badsey Showpeople Former caravan storage site, Wychavon New up to 10 Gypsy Land off A449, Crossway Green Hatfield Bank – Worcester Wychavon New up to 10 Gypsy

5 The landowner confirmed on 30 Jan 2018 that it is not available for Gypsy and Traveller use but instead want it considered for Travelling Showpeople use.

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South) A38 south of Carrington Malvern Hills New up to 10 Gypsy + Bridge (Worcester South) Showpeople + Transit Sherriff Street, Worcester Worcester New up to 10 Gypsy + (potentially in lieu of a site Showpeople + on Worcester West) Transit

Third Call for Sites:

10 valid site submissions were received in the third call for sites – which are summarised in Table 3 below.

Table 3 – Additional Sites Considered following the third “Call for Sites (Oct/Nov 2020)

Site Name and Location District New or Potential For Existing Number Gypsies/Travellers Site of New or or Travelling Additional Showpeople Pitche s 1 The Hill, Canada bank, Wychavon Existing 3 Gypsies and Charlton* Travellers Duffledown Farm, Wyre Wychavon Existing 16 Gypsies and Piddle Bypass, Upper Moor Travellers Land adj. 2 The Laurels, Wychavon Existing 10 Gypsies and Evesham Rd, Egdon Travellers Land Adj The Caravan, Wychavon Existing 6 - 20 Gypsies and Rous Lench* Travellers Land at the Caravan, Rous Wychavon Existing 10 Gypsies and Lench* Travellers Land at Wood Norton, Wychavon Existing 2 Gypsies and Evesham Travellers Plot 2 The Paddocks, Wychavon Existing 1 Gypsies and Comhampton Lane, Travellers Comhampton * Plot 4 The Paddocks, Wychavon Existing 1 Gypsies and Comhampton Lane, Travellers Comhampton Land next to Trotshill Lane Worcester New Number Gypsies and East, Warndon, Worcester not Travellers; suggested Travelling Showpeople and/or Transit site Land south of Broomhall Malvern Hills New 10 -12 Gypsies and Way (A4440), Worcester Travellers

* The third call for sites included four sites which had previously been submitted in the previous call for sites but which now indicate a revised parcel of land and so have been assessed again.

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Stage 2: Initial Suitability and Availability Assessment

The second stage involved a desk-based assessment of suitability criteria, together with an initial investigation of likely availability.

This stage sieved out immediately sites which were likely to fail on the grounds of either the site being unavailable for Traveller or Travelling Showpeople purposes or potential sites contravening major constraints such as being within planning designations, areas prone to flooding, on contaminated land etc.

The initial site availability and suitability assessment is summarised in Tables 3a and 3b.

If a site could not satisfy all of the essential suitability and availability criteria (i.e. red on the matrix) it was rejected.

All sites which did not receive a “red” in the Initial Availability and Suitability Assessment were taken forward to be considered at the next stage.

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Table 3a - Initial Availability and Suitability Assessment Matrix from the First Call for Sites

Site Details Essential Essential Suitability Criteria Conclusion Availability Criteria Site Name / Location Source Availability Within Flood Land International Local Green Belt Known Should the site for T&TS Use 800m of a Risk Recorded on or National Designation or Priority be considered town or Contaminate Designation Significant Species & further? Category 1, d Land Gap Habitats 2 or 3 Register If no, reason for Settlement, rejecting site or within Urban Extension Hillbee Farm Call for Up ton Upon Se vern Sites Haylers End Incinerator Call for 1.3 km from Hanley Swan Sites nearest settlement Lower Howsell Road Call for Significant Gap Leigh Sinton Sites Fieldview Call for 1.6km from Gadfield Elm (nr Staunton) Sites nearest settlement. Whole site in Flood Risk zones 2 & 3. Gas pipeline runs through site. Acton Villa, Acton, Call for 2.6 km from Ombersely Sites Ombersl ey Comhampton Lane, Call for 3km+ from Dunhampton, Ombersley Sites Ombersley The Hill, Canada Bank, Call for 1.5 km from Charlton Sites Cropthorne Land known as the Tree Call for Adj. SSSI. Adj. Nursery, adj Westwood Way Sites Listed building and A38 roundabout, (The Boat House). Droitwich Adj. Historic Park and Garden (Westwood House). In a local or regional wildlife site. TPO on surrounding land. Land off Narroway Lane, Call for 1km from

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Site Details Essential Essential Suitability Criteria Conclusion Availability Criteria Site Name / Location Source Availability Within Flood Land International Local Green Belt Known Should the site for T&TS Use 800m of a Risk Recorded on or National Designation or Priority be considered town or Contaminate Designation Significant Species & further? Category 1, d Land Gap Habitats 2 or 3 Register If no, reason for Settlement, rejecting site or within Urban Extension Crossway Green 6 Sites Hartlebury Land off Waresley Road, Call for Green Belt. Hartlebury Sites TPOs along boundary with Pleck Orchard. Torton Paddock, Charlton Call for 1.8km to Lane, Torton Sites Hartlebury. Green Belt. The Orchard, Knowle Hill, Call for Badsey Sites Severn Acres, Main Rd, Call for Application Cropthorne Sites pending for 2 additional pitches w/ 20/02133 Orchard View, Evesham Rd, Call for 1.4km to nearest Fladbu ry Sites settlement. 8 Evergreen Bank, Main Rd, Call for Application now Cropthorne Sites approved for 3 pitches 16/00209 – no more room on s ite Blossom Hill, Village St, Call for Access Within 100m Access road Aldington Sites road in of special appears to be in flood wildlife site flood zone 3 but zone 3 not the land itself. Now has planning consent w/15/02023 for 2 pit ches The Laurels , Main Rd, Call for Located in Located in local

6 Crossway Green is categorised as a Category 4 village in the new Village Facilities and Rural (Public) Transport Survey published in Sept 2019 – it was previously a category 3 village.

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Site Details Essential Essential Suitability Criteria Conclusion Availability Criteria Site Name / Location Source Availability Within Flood Land International Local Green Belt Known Should the site for T&TS Use 800m of a Risk Recorded on or National Designation or Priority be considered town or Contaminate Designation Significant Species & further? Category 1, d Land Gap Habitats 2 or 3 Register If no, reason for Settlement, rejecting site or within Urban Extension Bredon sites local gap in gap in adopted adopted Bredon Bredon Neighbourhood Neighbourho Plan - allocation od Plan - would be contrary allocation to this policy would be contrary to this policy Shorthill Caravan Park, Temporary 1km+ from Crossway Green 7 consent, Hartlebury. without Current appeal personal pending occupancy w/18/02270 restriction – now expired Worcester South Urban SWDP May be situated in Extension a Significant Gap – but the principle of this is accepted by SWDP. Precise location of potential Traveller site not known so difficult to assess suitability criteria further at this stage. Worcester West Urban SWDP Precise location of Extension potent ial Tr aveller

7 Crossway Green is categorised as a Category 4 village in the new Village Facilities and Rural (Public) Transport Survey published in Sept 2019 – it was previously a category 3 village.

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Table 3b - Initial Availability and Suitability Assessment Matrix from the Second Call for Sites

Site Details Essential Essential Suitability Criteria Conclusion Availability Criteria Site Ref Source Availability Within Flood Contaminate International Local Green Belt Known Should the site No. for T&TS Use 800m of a Risk d Land or National Designation or Priority be considered town or Designation Significant Species & further? Category 1, Gap Habitats 2 or 3 If no, reason for Settlement, rejecting site or within Urban Extension Halfkey Farm, Halfkey Second Parts of Significant Significant Gap call for site Gap sites suscepti ble to groundw ater vulnerab ility Mountain View, Bastonford Second call for sites The Paddocks, Newlands Second 1km from Collets call for Green sites Willows End, Guarlford Second Suscepti Site of Local 1.8km from call for ble to Wildlife Malvern sites surface Importance water along flooding entrance – 1 in 200 year Abbey College, Malvern Second AONB Site covered Species AONB. Wells call for by an area records for TPOs on site. sites TPO badger Priority species (Meles and habitats on meles), site. senecio sylvaticus (plant) and paver argemone

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Site Details Essential Essential Suitability Criteria Conclusion Availability Criteria Site Ref Source Availability Within Flood Contaminate International Local Green Belt Known Should the site No. for T&TS Use 800m of a Risk d Land or National Designation or Priority be considered town or Designation Significant Species & further? Category 1, Gap Habitats 2 or 3 If no, reason for Settlement, rejecting site or within Urban Extension (plant) Main Road, Kempsey 8 Second Poss 1 call for in 200 sites year , less than 0.3m Ground water vulnerab ility Baughton View Second North Ancient Records of 2km from Earls call for west woodland 50m badger Croome. sites corner to north of the (Meles Priority species Flood site meles) and habitats on Zones 2 neighbourin site. or 3. g the site Site subject to ground water vulnerab ility The Dog Inn, Baughton Second North Ancient Records of 2km from Earls call for west woodland 50m badger Croome. sites corner to north of the (Meles Priority species Flood site meles) and habitats on Zones 2 neighbourin site.

8 The landowner confirmed on 30 Jan 2018 that it is not available for Gypsy and Traveller use but instead want it considered for Travelling Showpeople use.

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Site Details Essential Essential Suitability Criteria Conclusion Availability Criteria Site Ref Source Availability Within Flood Contaminate International Local Green Belt Known Should the site No. for T&TS Use 800m of a Risk d Land or National Designation or Priority be considered town or Designation Significant Species & further? Category 1, Gap Habitats 2 or 3 If no, reason for Settlement, rejecting site or within Urban Extension or 3. g the site Site subject to ground water vulnerab ility Broomfield, Newnham Second Flood Record of 3km from Bridge call for Zones 2 Carex Eardiston, 5km sites and 3 at pseudocyper from Clows Top, north of us (plant) 8km from Tenbury site. within the Wells. Site site Priority species subject and habitats on to site. groundw ater vulnerab ility Church Meadows Caravan Second Adj. to SSSI. Adj to SSSI 3.5km to Site, Dormston Lane, call for Close to the (Dormston Inkberrow Dormston (10 pitches) sites Grade I listed Church church Meadow); ecological and protected species surveys Badsey Road, Aldington (4 Second ecological pitches) call for and sites protected species surveys required – ecolo gical

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Seven Acres, Main Rd, First and Application Cropthorne (3 pitches) second pending for 2 call for additional pitches sites w/20/02133

Land opposite Newlands, Second ecological 820m from Evesham Rd, Norton (21 call for and Evesham pitches) sites protected species surveys – ecological mitigation and enhanceme nt Walnut Place (formerly The Second Further ecological 3km+ to Church Caravan), Radford Rd, call for investigation and Lench Rous Lench (20+ pitches) sites would be protected required species surveys if on more than just the pony

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Site Details Essential Essential Suitability Criteria Conclusion Availability Criteria Site Ref Source Availability Within Flood Contaminate International Local Green Belt Known Should the site No. for T&TS Use 800m of a Risk d Land or National Designation or Priority be considered town or Designation Significant Species & further? Category 1, Gap Habitats 2 or 3 If no, reason for Settlement, rejecting site or within Urban Extension pad dock. Orchard View, Main St, Second Further ecological 1.1km from Aldington call for investigation and Badsey sites would be protected required species surveys Hughes Barn, Bretforton Rd, Second Flood High risk of Badsey (8 pitches) call for zone 1, surface water sites but high flooding – would risk of need to be surface mitigated against water flooding Former caravan storage Second 970m from site, Land off A449, call for Hartlebury Crossway Green (up to 10 sites pitches) Worces ter Sout h - Hatfield Urban Unknown. Site Possible Signif icant Site availability for Bank Extension not submitted Groundw Gap 9 Traveller use not by landowner. ater established Views of vulnerabi landowner not lity known. A38 south of Carrington Second Unknown. Site Within Site Site 120m Site No protected Site avail abilit y for Bridge call for not submitted proposed adjacent from Listed adjacent to species Traveller use not sites by landowner. urban to Flood Building site of records established Views of extension Zone 2 Regional or within the

9 At the SWDP Examination, the South Worcestershire Councils did not consider Traveller sites within Significant Gaps to be appropriate development unless they are associated with an urban extension. Notwithstanding this, the SWCs considered that a single Traveller site within each of the Worcester South and Worcester West urban extensions in the Significant Gap would be an acceptable exception because the principle of large scale development within the urban extension boundaries had already been accepted.

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Site Details Essential Essential Suitability Criteria Conclusion Availability Criteria Site Ref Source Availability Within Flood Contaminate International Local Green Belt Known Should the site No. for T&TS Use 800m of a Risk d Land or National Designation or Priority be considered town or Designation Significant Species & further? Category 1, Gap Habitats 2 or 3 If no, reason for Settlement, rejecting site or within Urban Extension landowner not and 3 Local site but known. Ground Wildlife records of water Importance bats adjacent vulnerab (River to site ility on Severn). (Nyctalus most of noctula and the site Site 180m Pipistrellus from pipistrelles. Conservatio n Area Sherriff Street, Worcester Urban Site currently Site Needs to be Large Site Site availability for extension for sale. Site entrance checked – Scheduled adjacent to Traveller use not not submitted on dismantlers Monument an established by landowner. Newtow yard 110m from the archaeologic Not confirmed n Road site but seems al sensitive that is potential to be well area. available for ly screened from Traveller use. subject the site to surface Site adjacent water to an flooding archaeological sensitive area.

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Table 3c - Initial Availability and Suitability Assessment Matrix from the Third Call for Sites

Site Details Essential Essential Suitability Criteria Conclusion Availability Criter ia Site Ref Source Availability Within Flood Contaminate International Local Green Belt Known Should the site No. for T&TS Use 800m of a Risk d Land or National Designation or Priority be considered town or Designation Significant Species & further? Category 1, Gap Habitats 2 or 3 If no, reason for Settlement, rejecting site or within Urban Extension 1 The Hill, Canada Bank, First and 1.5km from Charlton Third Call Cropthorne for Sites - amended site bou ndar y Duffledown Farm, Wyre Third call PIddle Bypass, Upper Moor for S ites Land adj. 2 The Laurels, Third call 4km+ Worcester Egdon for Sites and Drakes Broughton Land adj. The Caravan, Second Further ecological 3km+ to Church Radford Road, Rous Lench and Third investigation and Lench call for would be protected Sites - required species amended surveys if on site more than bou ndar y just the pony Land at The Caravan, Third call Further ecological 3km+ to Church Radford Road, Rous Lench for Sites - investigation and Lench amended would be protected site required species boundary surveys if on more than just the pony Land at Wood Norton, Third call Adj. 2.7km from Lower Evesham for Sites regional/Loc Moor, 3.3km from al Wildlife Evesham Site Plot 2 The Paddocks, First and 3km+ from Comhampton Lane, Third call Ombersley Comhampton, Ombersley for Sites - amended

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Stage 3: Detailed Site Assessment

The third stage involved a more detailed on-site assessment of suitability, achievability and sustainability issues. The potential capacity of sites was also considered.

The on-site assessment helped determine the suitability of a site against the following essential criteria:

 Whether the land is relatively flat and stable.

 Whether the site has (or has potential of) safe and convenient access to the highway network.

 Whether there is likely to be any significant adverse visual impact which could not be adequately minimised.

 Whether there is likely to be a significant adverse impact on privacy and residential amenity for either site residents or neighbouring properties that could not be mitigated.

 Whether the site is likely to be capable of providing adequate on-site services for water supply, mains electricity, waste disposal and foul and surface water drainage.

If a site could not satisfy all of the essential suitability and availability criterion (ie red on the matrix) it was rejected. In addition to the essential criterion, sites were also assessed against the following criteria “desirable” suitability criterion. Whilst a failure to meet the criteria listed below may not, in themselves, preclude the development of Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites, they are important considerations which could assist in assessing the sustainability of sites and prioritising between a choice of potential sites.

 Whether local services and facilities such as schools and health facilities are accessible by walking, cycling and public transport.

 Whether it would be an extension to an existing site or a new site.

 Whether the site would be on previously developed land.

The results of the Stage 3 detailed site assessment are summarised in Tables 4a and 4b.

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Table 4a - Suitability and Achievement Assessment Matrix from the First Call for Sites

Essential Criteria Desirable Suitability Criteria Conclusion Site Name / Safe Visual Residential Capable Distance Distance Distance Distance Intensificat Previously Green Potential Should Site Location Topogra Access Impact Amenity and On-Site to Shop to to GP to Bus ion / Developed Infrastruct Number be Short- phy on to Neighbourin Services Primary Stop Extension Land ure of New / Listed? Public g Uses School to existing Additiona Highway Site l Pitches Hillbee Farm Highway Dwellings 1870m 1800m 1130m 410m Intensificat Protect 5 Need to Upton Upon authority immediately ion and demonstrate Severn would adjacent site restore suitable require access can further be achieved evidenc e The Orchard, Dwellings 1300m 1800m 1740m 1400m Intensificat Protect 5 Knowle Hill, within 200m ion and Badsey enhance Severn Acres, Highway Dwelling 2500m 1300m 4km 400m Intensificat Protect 2 Need to Main Road, authority within 100m ion and demonstrate Cropthorne, would of the site restore suitable require (on other access can further side of road) be achieved. evidenc Application e pending for 2 additional pitches w/20/02 133 Blossom Hill, Sloping 960m 1330m 2300m 90m Extension Protect 2 Village St, site and Aldington 10 enhance Worcester New site 10 South Urban Extension Worcester West New site 10 Urban Extension

10 Planning permission has subsequently been granted for the two pitches originally proposed at Aldington, so these are no longer being taken forward in the Development Plan Document. However, two further pitches were submitted in the second call for sites on neighbouring land at Aldington – see Table 4b.

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Table 4b - Suitability and Achievement Assessment Matrix from the Second Call for Sites

Essential Criteria Desirable Suitability Criteria Conclusio n Site Safe Visual Residential Capable Distanc Distanc Distanc Distanc Intensificatio Previousl Local Potential Should Site Name / Topograph Access on Impact Amenity and On-Site e to e to e to GP e to Bus n / Extension y Green Number be Short- Location y to Public Neighbourin Services Shop Primary Stop to existing Develope Networ of New / Listed? Highway g Uses School Site d Land k Additiona l Pitches Mountain Highway 19/01540 Local Water and 2.2km 1240m 3.7km 320m Temporary 2 Site View, authority refusal on objections to electricity. planning refused, Bastonfor would adverse planning Sewerage permission temporary d require impact on applications ? now expired permission further character granted at evidence and appeal and appearanc site e of area renewal and of refused – views appeal towards pending Malvern 19/01540 Hills AONB

Main Access not 30m from Landowne 1530m 1450m 1450m 270m New 10 Access not Road, suitable for Mear r says suggeste suitable Kempsey large Cottage. utilities d 11 vehicles 50m from and nursery services 6 available, but no details provided Badsey Sloping Access Not adjacent 960m 1330m 2100m 70m New site No Protect 4 Access Road, site problemati to and problemati Aldington c due to residential, enhanc c due to limited opposite e limited visibility existing visibility traveller sites. Blossom Sloping Access Not adjacent 960m 1330m 2300m 90m Extension No Protect 2 Hill, already to and

11 The landowner confirmed on 30 Jan 2018 that it is not available for Gypsy and Traveller use but instead want it considered for Travelling Showpeople use.

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Land Access Potential 2950m 1930m 1400m 375m New site No Protect Access opposite problemati noise from and 6-8 problemati Newlands c due to A46? enhanc c due to , limited e limited Evesham visibility visibility Rd, Nor ton Hughes Highway TBC 1300m 4km 170m Extension Protect 8 pitches Site is Barn, authority and suggeste considered Bretforton would enhanc d by suitable for Rd, require e owner up to 6 Badsey further pitches evid ence 6

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Table 4c - Suitability and Achievement Assessment Matrix from the Third Call for Sites

Essential Criteria Desirable Suitability Criteria Conclusio n Site Name Safe Visual Impact Residential Capabl Distanc Distanc Distanc Distanc Intensificatio Previousl Local Potential Should Site / Location Topography Access on Amenity and e On- e to e to e to GP e to Bus n / y Green Number be Short- to Public Neighbourin Site Shop Primary Stop Extension to Develope Networ of New / Listed? Highway g Uses Service School existing Site d Land k Addition s al Pi tches Duffledow Relatively Via Minimal – Traveller 2.7km 2.8km 3.8km 300m Extension No No 16 No – would n Farm, flat existing behind sites, result in a Wyre access existing residential large site PIddle onto Traveller site and open that is Bypass, roundabo countryside likely to be Upper ut difficult to Moor manage effec tively. Land off relatively No – Likely to be A4440 to 660m 1.8km 820m 580m New No No 10 No – Broomhall flat. access highly visible north access. Way, Remade would be from A4440 – (source of Response A4440, land from screen/plantin possible air from WRS Worcester following A4440 g required and noise on noise improveme which is pollution to and air nt to A4440 not site quality acceptabl residents. awaited e to the highway au thority

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Conclusions

Based on the assessment of sites submitted during the first “call for sites ” (including an assessment of responses to a Preferred Options consultation in March / April 2016), the following 3 sites appear to meet, or have the potential to meet, the essential suitability criteria for Traveller or Travelling Showpeople sites and should be taken forward for consideration and consultation as part of the Site Allocations Development Plan Document Preferred Options consultation .

Site Name and Location District New or Potential For Traveller or Existing No. New Travelling Site Pitches Showpeople use Hillbee Farm Malvern Hills Existing 3 Traveller Upton Upon Severn The Orchard, Knowle Hill, Wychavon Existing 5 Traveller Badsey Severn Acres, Main Road, Wychavon Existing 2 Traveller Cropthorne 12 , Sou th Worcs Total 8 Traveller

Based on the assessment of sites submitted during the second “call for sites ”, the following 2 sites potentially meet the essential suitability and availability criteria and could be taken forward for consideration and consultation as part of the Site Allocations Development Plan Document Preferred Options consultation.

Site Name and Location District New or Potential For Gypsy, Existing No. New Showman &/or Site Pitches Transit Use Blossom Hill, Village St, Wychavon Existing 2 Traveller Aldin gton Hughes Barn, Bretforton Rd, Wychavon New 6 Traveller Ba dsey South Worcs Total 8 Traveller

12 Site now has planning permission for 2 pitches so is removed form the list

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No sites submitted to the third call for sites meet the essential suitability criteria.

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