Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 19)

8.33. In accordance with national guidance, the Dudley Local Plan aims to provide sufficient, appropriately designed, and integrated sites to accommodate the needs of the gypsy, traveller and travelling show people communities over the plan period.        

Justification

8.34. Dudley Council along with Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils commissioned a joint Black Country Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment which was completed in February 2022. The study provides a robust assessment of needs in accordance with national guidance and identified the likely future local need for Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation.

8.35. DLP Part Two provides details of sites allocated in the DLP for Gypsy and Traveller pitches. Planning permission will also be granted for additional sites that meet the criteria set out in Policy DLP15, where appropriate.

8.36. Permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches, and Travelling Showpeople plots, have fixed infrastructure with all the normal residential amenities and are used as a base to travel from. They are intended to allow Gypsies and Travellers to obtain good access to education, health, and other services. It is important that pitches and plots are well designed in line with Secured by Design principles (as per Policy DLP39), and it is recommended that advice is sought from West Midlands Police Design Out Crime Officers.

8.37. The GTAA identified that Gypsies and Travellers prefer small, family-sized sites with approximately 10-15 pitches, but will accept larger sites if carefully planned and designed in consultation with the Gypsy community. Local authorities may assist Gypsies and Travellers living on their own land without planning permission to obtain retrospective planning permission where this is deemed appropriate.

8.38. The 2022 GTAA need figures (including an updated figure to 2041) are provided in table 8.4.              

8.39. Based on the PPTS 2015 'travel for all' definition the total need identified is for 19 pitches up to 2031, and an additional 15 pitches from 2031 to 2041, providing an overall need of 34 pitches over the Plan period. The ethnic definition identified a total need identified is for 29 pitches up to 2031, and an additional 17 pitches from 2031 to 2041, providing an overall need of 46 pitches over the Plan period The evidence supports the following approach towards meeting need:

8.40. Despite assessing several sites, no deliverable site options were put forward for Dudley borough through either the Black Country Plan two "call for sites" or the subsequent Dudley Local Plan 'call for sites' process. It is likely that the Council will have a shortfall in meeting the need for the Plan period.

8.41. If is not possible to identify and allocate further sites to meet the remaining need for 33/21 pitches up to 2041, the remaining need will be met within the "broad location" of the Dudley urban area, through the planning application process, with proposals considered against the criteria set out in Policy DLP15 and any other relevant Local Plan policies. This is consistent with a recent trend, where a small windfall site has come forward within the urban area and approved in accordance with other planning policies.             

8.42. The GTAA identifies a need for 46 pitches over the Plan period for those families / individuals that meet the ethnic definition set out in the GTAA, but do not meet the PPTS travel for all definition, and whose needs are not met by bricks and mortar accommodation. This need will seek to be met within the urban area, through the planning application process, with proposals considered against the criteria set out in Policy DLP15 and any other relevant Local Plan policies.

8.43. Travelling Showpeople have different accommodation requirements to those of Gypsies and Travellers, and form part of a different community. They require large plots capable of accommodating lorries and equipment, which are more suited to mixed use areas.

8.44. The GTAA identifies a need for 24 Travelling Showpeople plots over the Plan period. It is not possible to identify and allocate sites to meet this need, as no deliverable site options have been put forward through both Dudley borough through either the Black Country Plan two "call for sites" or the subsequent Dudley Local Plan call for sites process. Therefore, this need will be met within the "broad location" of the urban area, through the planning application process, with proposals considered against the criteria set out in Policy DLP15 and any other relevant Local Plan policies.

8.45. The GTAA identified a need for a transit site to be provided in Dudley to meet the needs of Travellers and help prevent the occurrence of unauthorised encampments. A permanent transit site was approved in December 2022; therefore, this need has been addressed.