Lifting of the Government Direction: Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document

Cancelled

New Coalition Government Minister Greg Clark MP has confirmed the cancellation of the Direction for Epping Forest District Council to produce a separate Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document. The announcement was made on 6 July 2010. Previous targets imposed on Epping Forest District Council, which required the accommodation of an extra 34 Gypsy and Traveller pitches by 2011, have also been removed. The Council meeting of 27th July agreed to cease further work on the DPD with immediate effect.

Link to Greg Clark MP revocation letter (PDF) (47kB)

Summary of events regarding Gypsies and Travellers within Epping Forest District
 

Epping Forest District Council is served Direction

On 17 September 2007 the previous Government served Epping Forest District Council with a Direction to identify suitable land for new Gypsy and Traveller sites. Initially the council was told to find suitable sites for an extra 49 Gypsy and Traveller pitches by 2011. The council successfully argued for a reduction from 49 to 34. However, the council was also told to make further provision for an annual 3% increase each year after 2011.

As of July 2010 it has been recorded that there are currently 104 authorised pitches in the district. Under the Direction this would have theoretically increased to 128 by 2011. By providing more authorised sites, the Government hoped to reduce the number of unauthorised encampments.

Most councils had been given targets for extra Gypsy and Traveller pitches. They were expected to accommodate the additional sites through the normal planning process. However, Epping Forest District Council was one of a few councils to receive a Government Direction, requiring extensive public consultation leading to the production of a special document setting out how and where extra sites were to be provided.

This was called a Development Plan Document (DPD) on increased pitch provision for Gypsies and Travellers. The Government set a deadline for submission of the DPD to the Secretary of State for examination by September 2009.

Council appeals Direction

Between September 2007 and July 2009 Epping Forest District Council appealed against the original submission date for a draft version of the ‘Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document’. The very large number of responses to the consultation process and delays in receiving regional planning information targets made the process unworkable within the Government deadlines.

In January 2009, Epping Forest District Council asked the Secretary of State to issue a revised Direction, amending the proposed timetable to a more achievable one. The Secretary of State refused to revise the Direction, maintaining that the Gypsy and Traveller DPD should be submitted to Government by April 2011.

Epping District Council starts ‘Consultation on Options’

‘Issues and Options Consultation’ of the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document ran between November 2008 and February 2009. It was extended by two weeks following overwhelming interest by local residents and stakeholders such as landowners, developers and the Gypsy and Traveller communities.

During the consultation the Council provided a hotline telephone number, which was purely dedicated to the Gypsy and Traveller DPD consultation. Information was frequently updated on the council website .

The site offered links to:
• All correspondence regarding the Direction and DPD between Epping Forest District Council and the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East);
• 'Fact Files’ on current and possible Gypsy and Traveller sites within the District. 
• Gypsy and Traveller Consultation Process Flowchart;
• Background Papers and Documents
• National Policy on Specific Issues
• Area Suitability Study and Area Constraints Maps (showing current constraints within the District)
• Case Law and Local Appeal Decisions

Over 10,000 people responded to the consultation. Responses were analysed in two stages. The first stage was to identify (a) suggested alternative sites; (b) racist or other unacceptable language; and (c) potential “showstoppers” for the sites included in the consultation. The second stage of the analysis was to carry out a detailed assessment of all the responses so that the issues raised could be reported in full to the Council.

However due to the quantity and complexity of the responses to the consultation, the former Government’s deadline could not be met.

Formal revoking of Direction

Following the election in May 2010, the new Coalition Government abolished Regional Spatial Strategies, thereby abolishing the targets for Gypsy and Traveller pitches which the original Direction was based upon. The Council then wrote to the new Secretary of State (Eric Pickles MP), asking that in light of these changes, the Direction be reviewed and withdrawn. The new ‘Minister for Decentralization’ Greg Clark MP replied in July 2010, formally revoking the Direction.

The decision to revoke was duly reported to councillors at the meeting of the Cabinet on 19 July and Full Council on 27 July. In light of the lifting of the Direction, Councillors voted to cease work on the Gypsy and Traveller DPD immediately.

The new Local Plan

The Council will now be concentrating on producing a new Local Plan. This will identify, amongst many other things, the housing and employment needs of the local community over the next 15 to 20 years. Provision for Gypsies and Travellers will be included as part of that broader housing study.

If you require further information call Forward Planning on their dedicated hotline   number: 01992 564517