New planning policy has been brought in that will give councils more power to tackle unauthorised development…
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has announced a new policy that aims to ensure all communities are treated equally in regards to unauthorised development.
Currently, there are specific and specialised planning rules in place that are designed to support the travelling community in England. However, new rules, which came into force on 31 August, will ensure only those who lead a genuine travelling lifestyle can benefit.
The aim is to ensure all communities follow the same planning rules, as well as to ensure the number of unauthorised developments does not continue to grow.
According to the DCLG, there was a four-fold increase in the number of caravans situated on unauthorised developments between 2000 and 2009. The measures aim to reduce some of the tension between Travellers and the settled population by ensuring fairness in the planning system. The policy reflects the requirement that caravan sites should be made available for those who travel permanently. Applications for a permanent site by someone who does not travel will be considered in the same way as an application from the settled population.
The measures will also ensure greater protection for the countryside and green belt land. Currently, many councils without an up to date supply of caravan sites can find protections of the green belt eroded. The new policy ensures this is no longer the case where proposed developments are in protected areas.
Additionally, councils will no longer be required to provide sites for people evicted from large scale unauthorised developments in their area.
Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: “I’m determined to ensure fairness in the planning system, so everyone abides by the same rules.
“Today’s new policy strengthens the hand of councils to tackle unauthorised development in their area, ensures all communities are treated equally and that the protection of the Green Belt is enforceable.
Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis said: “Unauthorised Traveller sites can blight communities, causing misery for their neighbours and creating resentment that planning rules don’t seem to be applied fairly.
“Today’s revised planning policy clearly sets out the protection against unauthorised occupation and that the rules apply fairly to every community equally – no ifs, no buts.”