Councils will no longer have to fund the needs of travellers being moved on, under new measures introduced to crack down on unauthorised sites.
The Government has announced new planning rules to ensure councils only need to provide sites for those who lead a ‘genuine’ travelling lifestyle. Any planning application from someone who has stopped physically travelling will now be treated as a typical planning application, rather than under policies relating to travellers.
Housing minister, Brandon Lewis, said: ‘We have already strengthened the powers that councils have to enforce planning rules and take action against breaches which fuel community tensions. This will not only tackle the abuse of the system but prevent long drawn-out cases like Dale Farm.
‘Today’s proposed measures go even further, and would end the perverse incentive for councils not to act when travellers ignore planning rules and set up unauthorised sites.’ Brandon Lewis sets out measures that will ensure fairness for all in the planning system and provide greater protection for our countryside.
The Government has also published new proposals to strengthen the level of protection given the green belt against inappropriate traveller site development.