Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Moorlands and Stafford Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showperson Accommodation Assessment 2015 Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council; Stoke-on-Trent City Council; Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Stafford Borough Council Final Report October 2015 Main Contact: Dr Michael Bullock Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0800 612 9133 Website: www.arc4.co.uk © 2015 arc 4 Limited (Company No. 06205180) GTAA – Final Report Page | 2 Contents 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 8 Study Components ............................................................................................... 9 Report structure .................................................................................................... 9 2. Legislative and policy context ......................................................................... 11 Legislative background ....................................................................................... 11 Policy background .............................................................................................. 11 Large-scale unauthorised encampments ............................................................ 14 Protecting the Green Belt ................................................................................... 14 Changes to definition of gypsy and traveller ....................................................... 15 Changes to definition of travelling showpeople................................................... 15 Implications of changed definitions and other 2015 Policy Changes for future GTAAs ................................................................................................................ 15 Duty to Cooperate .............................................................................................. 16 CLG Caravan Counts ......................................................................................... 19 CLG Design Guidance ........................................................................................ 20 3. Methodology ..................................................................................................... 22 Phase 1: Literature/desktop review and stakeholder consultation ...................... 22 Phase 2: Survey of Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople across the study area ......................................................................................... 23 Phase 3: Production of report ............................................................................. 24 The 2007 Study .................................................................................................. 25 4. The current picture: provision of Gypsy and Traveller sites ........................ 26 Provision of authorised and unauthorised sites .................................................. 26 5. The current picture: Gypsy and Traveller population and pitch availability ......................................................................................................... 31 Population estimates .......................................................................................... 31 Caravan Counts and authorised pitches ............................................................. 33 Home bases of respondents ............................................................................... 37 Tenure of respondents ....................................................................................... 37 Repairs and improvements ................................................................................. 39 Space requirements ........................................................................................... 41 Overcrowding ..................................................................................................... 42 Cost of accommodation, services and adaptations ............................................ 42 Planned moves ................................................................................................... 43 Household mobility ............................................................................................. 44 6. Gypsy and Traveller residential pitch requirements ..................................... 47 Model overview ................................................................................................... 47 Assumptions Regarding Turnover and Overcrowding ........................................ 48 October 2015 GTAA – Final Report Page | 3 Pitch requirement modelling – Stoke-on-Trent ................................................... 50 Pitch requirement modelling – Staffordshire Moorlands ..................................... 55 Pitch requirement modelling – Newcastle-under-Lyme ...................................... 60 Pitch requirement modelling – Stafford ............................................................... 65 Provision of new sites ......................................................................................... 72 7. Travelling practices, experiences and transit requirements ........................ 74 Travelling practices and experiences ................................................................. 74 Transit sites and stop over places ...................................................................... 76 Unauthorised encampment activity ..................................................................... 77 Need for transit ................................................................................................... 79 Summary of transit need .................................................................................... 82 8. Stakeholder consultation ................................................................................. 84 Overview ............................................................................................................ 84 General support for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople ................. 84 Provision of accommodation............................................................................... 85 Planning ............................................................................................................. 89 Cross Boundary Issues ...................................................................................... 90 9. Summary of Findings ....................................................................................... 92 Gypsies and Travellers ....................................................................................... 92 Travelling Showpeople ....................................................................................... 92 Transit Requirements ......................................................................................... 92 Headline findings by local authority .................................................................... 93 10. Conclusion and Strategic Response .............................................................. 96 Key issues and how to tackle them .................................................................... 96 Concluding comments ...................................................................................... 102 Appendix A: Legislative Background ..................................................................... 104 Overall approach .............................................................................................. 104 Appendix B: Policy and Guidance .......................................................................... 107 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 107 Appendix C: Fieldwork Questionnaire ................................................................... 118 Appendix D: Stakeholder Consultation ................................................................... 142 General Questions ............................................................................................ 143 Provision of Accommodation ............................................................................ 146 Planning Policy ................................................................................................. 157 Neighbouring authorities ................................................................................... 162 Appendix E: Glossary of Terms ............................................................................... 163 Appendix F: Summary of 2007 Needs ..................................................................... 166 October 2015 GTAA – Final Report Page | 4 List of tables Table 3.1 Interviews secured ................................................................................... 24 Table 4.1 List of Gypsy & Traveller Pitches on Sites and showperson Plots on Yards (as at April 2015) ........................................................................... 27 Table 4.2 List of Gypsy & Traveller Pitches on Sites and showperson Plots on Yards by Authority (as at April 2015) ....................................................... 29 Table 5.1a Households identifying as WGoIT by Accommodation Type ................... 31 Table 5.1b People from households identifying as WGoIT by Accommodation Type ......................................................................................................... 32 Table 5.1c People per Household, Calculation by Accommodation Type ................. 32 Table 5.1d Households identifying