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Huge drop in Traveller pitches funded by government
The number of caravan pitches for Gypsy and Traveller communities funded by the government fell dramatically in the last decade, figures quoted by the housing minister have shown.
In a recent answer to a parliamentary written question, housing minister Christopher Pincher revealed that only two allocations for Gypsy and Traveller sites have been made through the 2016 to 2021 Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme, delivering 30 pitches.
By comparison, between 2011 and March 2015 the Homes and Communities Agency (now called Homes England) spent around £44m delivering more than 500 new pitches through the Traveller Pitch Funding Programme, Mr Pincher added.
Another 400 pitches were refurbished in that period through the programme.
Under the 2015 to 2018 Affordable Homes Programme (AHP), allocations worth £4.9m were agreed, delivering 76 new pitches.
That means the average number of new pitches funded per year by the AHP between 2015 and 2021 was around 15, compared to more than 125 under the Traveller Pitch Funding Programme between 2011 and 2015 – a drop of 88%.
A minister this month admitted that the system for funding Traveller sites “is not working as well as it should”.
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Abbie Kirkby, policy and public affairs manager at Friends, Families and Travellers – a charity representing Gypsies, Roma and Travellers – said: “Central and local governments are failing to meet the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers, meaning communities are caught in a cycle of evictions in the absence of anywhere else to go.
“There are tried and tested approaches that create workable solutions for all, such as negotiated stopping arrangements and the provision of more permanent sites.
“However, the pitiful uptake of funding for sites and the drop in socially rented pitches in the last decade are clear indicators that the planning system simply isn’t working to meet the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers.
“Sadly, the planning system is steeped in prejudicial views and we need the reintroduction of a statutory duty to provide sites in order to see any meaningful change in this area.”
She added: “It beggars belief that the government are seeking to introduce harsh new enforcement laws against encampments whilst turning its back on the desperate need for more pitches and stopping places.”
In March, the Home Office announced that it will make intentional trespass a criminal offence as part of a crackdown on unauthorised encampments.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “It is the responsibility of councils to assess the need for Gypsy and Traveller sites in their area, and then plan to meet that need, in the same way that they plan for all forms of housing.
“Councils are best placed to make decisions about the number and location of such sites, having considered national planning policy for Traveller sites and local circumstances.”
Earlier this month, housing and rough sleeping minister Eddie Hughes told parliament: “We encourage local authorities with social housing providers to bid for funding through the £11.5bn Affordable Homes Programme, which includes funding for permanent Traveller and transit sites.
“However, I appreciate that the present system is not working as well as it should. We often see corrosive cases of retrospective planning permission.
“My department is actively considering options to increase local council enforcement powers through the Planning Bill, and we will announce steps in due course.”
