Site planning
The Accommodation assessment - Final report estimates the permanent and transit accommodation requirements until 2028 for the communities of -
- gypsy
- traveller
- travelling show people
Site improvements
Current provision
We need to increase the number of permanent pitches in the city, as well as creating a temporary stopping place. We reviewed sites across the city and identified land that will provide 10 new permanent pitches and a stopping site.
The Traveller site provision report to the Cabinet sets out the options and an agreed way forward.
Talks with the Gypsy and Traveller community on the Bedford and Wilmington sites took place in 2020. We have also consulted with the wider community of businesses and residents. Detailed plans taking into account the feedback were developed for the planning application.
Site 1
We are building 10 new pitches (6 double and 4 single) adjacent to the existing Wilmington Park site. This is a new distinct site with a separate entrance from Bedford Street. These will be for the Gypsy and traveller community of the city and have been allocated ready for completion summer 2026.
Site 2
Work is underway and expected to be completed in 2026 for a new Temporary Stopping Place for the city. This will help us to manage the situation when travellers pitch unexpectedly on council land in the city. The new site will give the police the option to move unauthorised encampments on to it. They will only be able to stay there a short period of time which would usually be up to 28 days. The Temporary Stopping Place with 17 pitches is next to the permanent sites but separated from them by a large open space. It will have a separate entrance from Mount Pleasant. The site is not suitable for permanent residency but does have a welfare block for toilet facilities. It can only be used seasonally between 1 April and 31 October due to planning restrictions. The work has improved the poor environmental condition of this vacant land for the whole community.