Gypsies and Travellers
The Government places a duty on councils to undertake an accommodation assessment and to make provision for any identified Gypsy and Traveller needs.
Northern and Eastern Hertfordshire studies
Broxbourne, East Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire, Stevenage and Welwyn Hatfield councils and Hertfordshire County Council have jointly commissioned two Gypsy and Traveller studies.
The first is a study by ORS consultants to identify how many Gypsy and Traveller pitches we need to provide in northern and eastern Hertfordshire over the next 5 years. It identified a need for 35 additional permanent pitches and 10 additional transit pitches across the study area.
A copy of the ORS study can be downloaded below. Alternatively a copy can be purchased from Stevenage Borough Council for £35 + £1.81 if posted.
The second is a study by Scott Wilson consultants which identifies potential areas in the five districts that could accommodate Gypsy and Traveller pitches. It took account of issues such as distance from services, environmental designations and the Green Belt, as well as site specific criteria.
A copy of the Scott Wilson study can be downloaded below. Alternatively a hard copy can be purchased from Stevenage Borough Council for £35 + £1.81 p&p. A CD can be purchased for £5 including p&p.
Individual chapters and maps can be downloaded below:
- Front Cover and Contents
- Section 1 - Executive Summary
- Section 2 - Introduction
- Section 3 - Methodology
- Section 4 - Identified Areas
- Section 5 - Recommended Policy Criteria
- Section 6 Summary
- Appendix 1 - Green Belt Areas
- Appendix 2 - Green Belt Areas
- Figure 1 - Study Area
- Figure 2 - Extent of Green Belt
- Figure 3a - Constraints and Opportunities
- Figure 3b - Constraints and Opportunities
- Figure 4 - Constraints and Opportunities Broxbourne
- Figure 5a - Constraints and Opportunities East Hertfordshire
- Figure 5b - Constraints and Opportunities East Hertfordshire
- Figure 5c - Constraints and Opportunities East Hertfordshire
- Figure 6a - Constraints and Opportunities North Hertfordshire
- Figure 6b - Constraints and Opportunities North Hertfordshire
- Figure 6c - Constraints and Opportunities North Hertfordshire
- Figure 7 - Constraints and Opportunities Stevenage
- Figure 8 - Constraints and Opportunities Welwyn Hatfield
- Figure 9 - Suitability scores of potential areas of search
- Figure 10a - Identified potential green belt areas
- Figure 10b - Identified potential green belt areas
The identification of a potential area of land in the Scott Wilson study does not necessarily mean that it will be allocated for Gypsy and Traveller pitches. The findings and recommendations of both studies will be used to inform future planning documents that we will prepare. These documents will need to consider alternative potential locations and make a judgement about the availability and deliverability of sites. All documents will be subject to public consultation and a formal examination process before any final decisions are made.
Please contact the Council if you would like to buy a copy of the Scott Wilson report:
- Planning Policy, Stevenage Borough Council, Daneshill House, Danestrete, Stevenage, SG1 1HN
- planningpolicy@stevenage.gov.uk