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Planning System: Gypsies and Travellers
29 January 2020
Lead MP
Philip Hollobone
Kettering
Con
Responding Minister
Luke Hall
Tags
TaxationLocal Government
Word Count: 13015
Other Contributors: 15
At a Glance
Philip Hollobone raised concerns about planning system: gypsies and travellers in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Mr. Hollobone asks the Government to ensure someone in breach of an enforcement notice cannot apply for retrospective planning permission until the initial breach is remedied, and to change rules on trespassing by lowering the number of vehicles needed to trigger police action from six to at least two.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Mr. Philip Hollobone is concerned about the preferential treatment within the planning system for Gypsies and Travellers, which he believes is inflaming tensions between them and the settled community. He cites specific instances where unauthorised encampments have been established on privately owned land without permission. According to his figures from July 2018, there are around 3,100 caravans on unauthorised sites, with over 2,100 of these on land bought by Travellers and the remainder on land they do not own. He also points out that Gypsies and Travellers have lower levels of work and educational attainment compared to other ethnic groups.
Andrew Selous
Con
South West Bedfordshire
Andrew highlights the issue of low employment rates and lack of qualifications among Gypsies and Travellers, suggesting that they should be integrated into a whole assessment of housing needs within local areas rather than treated as a separate group. Mr. Selous highlighted the need for cohesive communities and good life chances for all citizens, particularly Traveller children who face poor educational, employment, and health outcomes. He expressed that his settled constituents feel unsafe due to theft and threats from some members of the Traveller community. Mr. Selous criticized the current planning policies as failing both Travellers and settled residents, arguing that they prioritise nomadic living over education for Traveller children. Andrew Selous intervened twice, asking about flexible education for Traveller children and expressing that his constituency had experienced issues with Gypsies and Travellers for over a decade.
Andrew Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith and Chiswick
He noted that the failure of local authorities to provide sites for Gypsies and Travellers is contributing to the necessity for them to stop in unauthorised areas, questioning whether this is a factor. Andrew Slaughter highlighted the high level of deprivation in Gypsy and Traveller communities, citing statistics such as only 3% to 4% of individuals aged 18-30 entering higher education. He argued that there is discrimination against Gypsies and Travellers in planning processes and called for a change in approach.
Andy Slaughter
Lab
Hammersmith
Andy supports Mr. Hollobone's call for action on trespassing and emphasizes the need to address issues beyond planning, such as education and work opportunities for Gypsies and Travellers.
Carshalton and Wallington
Intervened to suggest that police are not effectively using the powers available to them when dealing with unauthorised encampments, which contributes to the problem faced by local communities. Elliot Colburn highlighted the difficulties local authorities face in managing Gypsy and Traveller sites, citing a specific example from Sutton London Borough where the council's handling of a site plan led to public objections and delays. He stressed the need for better welfare checks on encampments, faster enforcement mechanisms, and suggested replacing the requirement for permanent sites with transitory ones.
Fiona Bruce
Con
Congleton
She highlighted that businesses in her constituency are facing difficulties due to wrongful occupation of business sites by Gypsies and Travellers, indicating this is a widespread issue beyond just residential concerns.
Jim McMahon
Lab Co-op
Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton
The MP highlighted the prejudices against the Gypsy and Traveller community and emphasised the need for factual evidence over anecdotes. He discussed legitimate issues such as educational attainment, housing provision, and land supply, urging for a system that supports the flexible lifestyle of the Traveller community. He also pointed out the responsibility of local authorities in providing authorised sites and addressing illegal encampments. The MP called for a joined-up strategy covering health, education, employment and social welfare to improve conditions for the Traveller community.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
He suggested that building relationships with the Traveller community requires more encouragement for their children to attend local schools and clubs and emphasised mutual respect as a key factor in integrating the Traveller community into wider society.
Kate Green
Lab
Wirral South
She congratulated the hon. Member for introducing the debate and pointed out that in Ireland, the criminalisation of trespass is part of a broader package of equalities and rights programs for Gypsies and Travellers, questioning the flawed nature of the Home Office consultation. Kate Green argued that the balance of rights and responsibilities between local authorities and Travellers is not currently in favour of the travelling community. She noted that planning policy changes have reduced the supply of sites for Gypsies and Travellers, and highlighted that no local authority has taken up affordable homes funding to provide more pitches despite its availability.
Brighton Kemptown
He argued that historical planning laws have been discriminatory towards Travellers living nomadic lifestyles, pointing out that five councils in the country have not identified any Traveller sites and very few have reached their full limit. Since Brighton opened a transit site and expanded the permanent site, the number of encampments in unauthorised locations has reduced by almost half. Lloyd Russell-Moyle provided an example of how negotiation can be more effective than punitive measures.
Mark Francois
Con
Rayleigh and Wickford
He congratulated his colleague on securing the debate and mentioned that although the government did not explicitly use this phrase, they committed to making acts of deliberate trespass a criminal offence, requiring primary legislation.
Mark Pawsey
Con
Warwickshire South
There were 39,200 retrospective planning applications over three years with only one in eight rejected. This creates an incentive for Gypsy and Traveller encampments to exploit the system by developing land at agricultural value and later obtaining developable land worth. Mark Pawsey highlighted the challenges faced by Gypsies and Travellers in his constituency, noting issues with retrospective planning applications and temporary consents. He detailed how developments often start on bank holidays to avoid immediate enforcement action, leading to delays in addressing unauthorised pitches. My hon. Friend the Member for Kettering mentioned powers to require an inappropriate development to be taken down and the site restored, questioning whether these powers are used far too rarely.
Matt Western
Lab
Warwick and Leamington
The MP intervened, expressing concern about the financial burden on local authorities due to the lack of authorised sites and called for the government to support councils in using compulsory purchase powers to buy land for permanent sites.
Paul Beresford
Con
Mole Valley
Discussed the difficulties faced by constituents applying for permission to build on green belt land in Mole Valley, highlighting specific cases where some Travellers ignored planning laws and remained on a site since 2003. Emphasised that local authorities should be able to enforce vacation of unauthorised encampments.
Paul Beresford
Con
Mole Valley
Sir Paul agrees with Mr. Hollobone's points, emphasizing that special treatment within the planning system for Travellers applies only to a quarter of their population and does not address issues such as work levels and educational attainment.
Zarah Sultana
Your Party
Coventry South
Ms Sultana highlighted the prejudice faced by Gypsies and Travellers, citing a report where 91% of people in these communities had experienced racism. She noted that inadequate provision for stopping places and authorised sites leads to unauthorised camps and proposed police powers would further oppress this marginalised group.
Government Response
Luke Hall
Government Response
Fairness in the planning system is taken seriously by the Government. National planning policies apply equally to all applicants, including protections for groups such as Travellers. The definition of Gypsies and Travellers was amended in 2015 to ensure fairness. Funding of £1.79 million has been provided to improve local authorities' capacity to respond to enforcement issues. Guidance is being finalised on assessing housing need for those residing in caravans, and the Government are committed to reviewing cases where concerns arise about the number of authorised Traveller sites. The Home Office consultation seeks views on criminalising the act of trespass when setting up an unauthorised encampment, with proposed amendments including extending temporary stop notice periods and enabling police powers for removal from highway land. A cross-Government strategy is being developed to address inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities across outcomes such as housing, education and health.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.