Cheshire East Council has commissioned consultants to undertake a study throughout East Cheshire to identify and shortlist potential sites for gypsies, travellers and travelling show people.
Lasting until the end of August, the study is designed to enable the Council to meet Government's requirements for identifying a five-year supply of travellers' sites to reflect the needs set out in the forthcoming revised Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Study.
The Council says it is committed to taking a proactive approach in planning for the future provision of sites to meet the needs of the travelling community. This study to identify potential sites will provide a robust evidence base to support the development of the Cheshire East Local Plan. It will be carried out in an open and transparent way, to ensure all sites are assessed in a consistent and fair way.
The study, by Peter Brett Associates, will also be used to tackle unauthorised developments, which are often in unsuitable locations. In the past, an absence of authorised sites has been used by the courts and the Planning Inspectorate across the country to justify the retention of some unauthorised developments.
As a first stage, comments are being invited on the proposed process to help appraise and identify suitable sites. Click here to access the Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showperson Site Identification Methodology.
A 'call for sites' process is also being undertaken and any suggestions of suitable sites and locations will be welcomed. If you know of any potential sites then you can complete and return the Call for Sites Proforma.
Any sites shortlisted in this project will be subject to further public consultation. It should be noted that if a site is shortlisted in the report it does not necessarily mean that the site will be allocated, or that planning permission will necessarily be given for the site.
The most suitable sites will be recommended to be allocated for gypsy, traveller and travelling show person use and will also then be subject to statutory planning processes.
Comments on the methodology and / or suggested potential sites should be sent to Sharon Jefferies at Peter Brett Associates at [email protected] or Peter Brett Associates, 10 Queen Square, Bristol, BS1 4NT.
The closing date for this consultation is 5pm Friday 2nd August 2013.
