GYPSY AND TRAVELLER DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT

Visit the Council's Traveller Issues webpages.

What is the Gypsy and Traveller DPD?

National and regional planning policy requires a significant increase in the number of Gypsy and Traveller sites in appropriate locations to meet needs. The Single Issue Review of the East of England Plan was completed on 20 July 2009 with the publication of a revision to the East of England Plan relating to the provision of accommodation for Gypsy & Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. The first East of England Plan was published in May 2008. A revised Policy H3 and a new Policy H4 replace Policy H3 of the existing East of England Plan and set out how many pitches and plots are needed in each district to provide enough authorised pitches and plots to meet needs until 2021.

The targets for South Cambridgeshire are at least 69 new Gypsy & Traveller pitches in the district between 2006 and 2011, and at least a further 58 new Gypsy & Traveller pitches between 2011 and 2021. For South Cambridgeshire the pitch and plot requirements set out in the revision to the East of England Plan Revision are the same as those used to inform the Gypsy & Traveller DPD Issues & Options 2 Report: Site Options & Policies.

The Council's Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document (DPD) must include land allocations to demonstrate how these Gypsy & Traveller pitches will be delivered. Since 2006 some Gypsy & Traveller pitches have already come forward, reducing the number of Gypsy & Traveller pitches to be allocated within the DPD to 88.

The revision to the East of England Plan also requires 40 transit pitches (by 2011) and 27 Travelling Showpeople plots (by 2021) in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. A county-wide process to identify sites is being considered.

The DPD will:

allocate sites in order to implement the East of England Plan at a district level;
cover the period to 2021; and
set out planning policies to address proposals for Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites.

Latest News on the Gypsy and Traveller DPD

The Council sought your views on its site options for Gypsy & Traveller pitches and Travelling Showpeople plots and draft planning policies through a 13-week period of public consultation from 10 July to 9 October 2009.

Thank you for your comments. The comments submitted are now being processed by the Council. Once all the comments have been processed they will be available to view on the Council's online consultation website and acknowledgement letters and emails will be issued.

What happens next?

If any new site options have been suggested, the Council will assess them using the criteria set out in the Issues & Options 2 Report: Site Options & Policies. Any reasonable options will be subject to further consultation.

The detailed timetable for the production of the Gypsy & Traveller DPD is included in the Local Development Scheme.

Consultation Documents: Issues & Options 2

Consultation Documents: Issues & Options 1

Supporting Documents

Single Issue Review of the East of England Plan

The Secretary of State published on 20 July 2009 a revision to the East of England Plan relating to the provision of accommodation for Gypsy & Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. More information is available on the GO-EAST website (This link will open in a new window).

Cambridge Sub-Region Traveller Needs Assessment (May 2006)

If you would like a further explanation of the Gypsy & Traveller DPD, or any other matter relating to the Local Development Framework, please either e-mail the Planning Policy section on ldf@scambs.gov.uk (This link will open in a new window), or phone 01954 713183.