South Downs National Park: Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Background Paper (2016) South Downs National Park Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Background Paper 2016 Base date 1st DECEMBER 2016 (This study does not currently include the Brighton & Hove City area) South Downs National Park: Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Background Paper (2016) Contents Chapter Page No. 1. Introduction & Frequently Asked Questions 2 2. Background to the South Downs National Park 3 3. Purpose of this assessment 4 4. Legislative Background 5 5. Existing provision of Gypsy and Traveller sites within the South Downs National Park at 1st December 2016 7 6. What is the need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation? 9 7. Site Search 13 8. Site Search Conclusions 17 9. Meeting the Needs 18 1 South Downs National Park: Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Background Paper (2016) 1. Introduction & Frequently Asked Questions 1.1 This background paper brings together the results of a number of studies and pieces of work completed in recent years across the National Park in relation to Gypsy and Traveller sites. It looks at the level of need for Gypsy and Traveller sites, how sites have been identified and how they have been assessed leading ultimately to their allocation. 1.2 The study has a base date of the 1st December 2016. 1.3 The following FAQs will help to direct you to key areas within the study: Table 1.1: Frequently Asked Questions • How do I know if a site has been Appendix C provides a list of all the sites considered. assessed? This list is sorted by study area. • How do I find the assessment Appendix E and G shows the results of the initial recommendations? screening processes. Appendix H contains a more detailed assessment of those sites that passed the initial screening process. • How have sites been assessed? Every site has been subject to broadly the same assessment process. Appendix D sets out the first stage assessment criteria which results in many sites being excluded from further consideration and Appendix F the more detailed stage 2 assessment criteria for those sites that remain in the process. • How have the sites been More detail on how sites have been identified or why a identified? site may be listed is available in Section 7.0 • What happens next? Further consideration will be given to the sites identified as having potential in this report and may be allocated in the Pre-Submission Local Plan due to be published in September 2017. Sites considered suitable for safeguarding will be protected by a general safeguarding policy in the emerging Local Plan. 2 South Downs National Park: Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Background Paper (2016) 2. Background to the South Downs National Park 2.1 The South Downs National Park (SDNP) covers an area of over 1,600 km2, with 15 local authorities operating within the area. The South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) became the planning authority for the National Park on 1st April 2011. 2.2 As a local planning authority, the National Park Authority is required by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to prepare a Local Plan which sets out how the SDNPA will manage development over the next 15 years. This is based on the statutory purposes for national parks as specified in the Environment Act 1995: 1. To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area. 2. To promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the national park by the public. 2.3 The SDNPA also has a duty when carrying out the purposes to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of the local communities within the National Park. This includes Gypsies and Travellers. 2.4 In addition, Section 62 of the Environment Act 1995 also requires all relevant authorities, including statutory undertakers and other public bodies, to have regard to these purposes. 2.5 The South Downs was designated as a national park in recognition of its landscapes of exceptional beauty and importance. Therefore it is entirely appropriate to take a landscape- led approach to the formulation of its Local Plan. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that great weight should be given to conserving landscape and scenic beauty in national parks, which have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty along with the Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Consequently the landscape impact of any proposed Gypsy and Traveller Site is a fundamental consideration. 2.6 As with all planning authorities it is necessary for the SDNPA to assess the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites across the National Park and seek to identify suitable deliverable sites. 2.7 It should be noted that the National Park boundary does not reflect any administrative or standard boundary as the designation is landscape based. It is therefore inherently problematic to compile any socio economic data sets specifically for the National Park area or any of its constituent parts. 3 South Downs National Park: Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Background Paper (2016) 3. Purpose of this assessment 3.1 The purpose of this paper is to: a) Identify existing provision for Gypsies and Travellers across the SDNP including authorised and unauthorised sites. b) Collate the results of the various studies looking at the need for sites for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople across the SDNP and update them to take account of recent permissions in order to identify current need. c) Assess all potential sites that may be suitable to accommodate any existing unmet and future need. 3.2 This work provides the evidence to support the emerging policy on Gypsy and Travellers in the Pre-Submission version of the South Downs Local Plan, which is due to be published for Regulation 19 consultation in September 2017. 4 South Downs National Park: Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Background Paper (2016) 4. Legislative Background 4.1 Planning policy for Travellers Sites (2015) sets out current Government planning policy for Traveller sites. It states that Local Planning Authorities should, in producing their Local Plan: a) identify and update annually, a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide 5 years’ worth of sites against their locally set targets. b) identify a supply of specific, developable sites, or broad locations for growth, for years 6 to 10 and, where possible, for years 11-15 c) consider production of joint development plans that set targets on a cross-authority basis, to provide more flexibility in identifying sites, particularly if a local planning authority has special or strict planning constraints across its area (local planning authorities have a duty to cooperate on planning issues that cross administrative boundaries) d) relate the number of pitches or plots to the circumstances of the specific size and location of the site and the surrounding population’s size and density e) protect local amenity and environment. Definitions (Extracted from Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2015) Gypsies and Travellers: 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. Travelling Showpeople: 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. Pitch: A pitch on a gypsy and traveller site Plot: A pitch on a travelling showpeople site (often called a “yard”). This terminology differentiates between residential pitches for gypsies and travellers and mixed-use plots for travelling showpeople, which may / will need to incorporate space or to be split to allow for the storage of equipment. Van Dwellers (Source: Brighton & Hove City Council): Van Dwellers are usually found living in their vehicles on the roadside or on unauthorised encampments and are generally not nomadic. Van Dwellers are not considered to meet the definition of a Traveller in any national policy as collectively they are not a recognised ethnic group nor are they considered New Travellers as they are effectively permanently resident in the city, such as through work or education. 4.2 The 2015 guidance superseded Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2012 guidance. The preparation of all the assessments of need for Gyspy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites within the SDNP was undertaken in accordance with the 2012 guidance, which contained a different definition of who could be considered to be a Gypsy or Traveller. It is considered by the SDNPA neither practical nor proportionate to undertake new assessments of need across the National Park to take account of this revised definition. However, SDNPA officer knowledge of the families across the National Park, supplemented by information contained within planning applications and recent appeals indicates a high 5 South Downs National Park: Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Background Paper (2016) likelihood that most fulfil the 2015 definition of a Gypsy or Traveller. This continues to be confirmed as part of any planning application process. Any reassessment of need under the new 2015 definition will be undertaken by the relevant Housing Authorities in accordance with Clause 115 of the Housing and Planning Bill. The SDNPA will be involved in this work and will use the results to inform future Local Plan reviews.