Next Generation GTAAs: Assessing Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs

1. Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessments: the next generation 25th April 2013 Dr Jo Richardson

2. Introduction • Changing context for Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments (GTAAs) • Variety of methodologies used in range of GTAAs • More than just a pitch requirement number • Evidence + winning hearts and minds • Benchmarking and consistency – future research needed in East Midlands? • Deliverability • Conclusions

3. Changing Context • Coalition government changes • Localism Act (2011) • National Planning Policy Framework (2012) • Planning policy for traveller1 sites (2012) Note the lower case ‘t’

4. Evidence still required Planning policy for traveller sites (PPTS) paragraph 3: “The Government’s overarching aim is to ensure fair and equal treatment for travellers, in a way that facilitates the traditional and nomadic way of life of travellers while respecting the interests of the settled community” And paragraph 4: “To help achieve this, Government’s aims in respect of travellers sites are: * That local planning authorities should make their own assessment of need for the purposes of planning.”

5. Diversity of GTAA methodologies Whilst GTAAs not specified in PPTS planning authorities still have to collect evidence to make their own assessments and many are continuing to use GTAA approach. ‘Refresh/Update’ studies increasingly used to build on previous studies. Mix of desk-top and primary evidence collection. Some good practice examples – enough time given to the study to enable co-production methods over a reasonable timescale. GTAA examples Example one - DMU completed original wide-ranging study in 2010; currently undergoing an update to take figures to the end of the plan period (2032). Example two – Previous study completed in 2006. DMU undertook a ‘refresh’ in 2012.

6. More than just a pitch requirement number GTAAs are an important piece of evidence, still relevant in the new PPTS and NPPF context. Where co-production methodologies used they are a tool to empower Gypsies and Travellers and potentially to build alliances in communities (Putnam: bonding and bridging social capital). Depending on scope and budget of the client – collect evidence on health and education to help inform other local authority policies. Build up working alliances between planning authorities where the GTAA is jointly commissioned between councils. Duty to co-operate.

7. PPTS Policy A:Using evidence to plan positively and manage development In assembling the evidence base necessary to support their planning approach, local planning authorities should: Pay particular attention to early and effective community engagement with both settled and traveller communities (including discussing travellers’ accommodation needs with travellers themselves, their representative bodies and local support groups). Co-operate with travellers, their representative bodies and local support groups, other local authorities and relevant interest groups to prepare and maintain an up-to-date understanding of the likely permanent and transit accommodation needs of their areas over the lifespan of their development plan working collaboratively with neighbouring local planning authorities. Use a robust evidence base to establish accommodation needs to inform the preparation of local plans and make planning decisions.

8. Evidence + winning hearts and minds GTAA as a process can help initiate a dialogue necessary for community engagement with settled and traveller communities. In GTAA case study one ‘What’s it all about leaflets’ distributed, presentation of findings to local politicians and local people at the end of the project. Some fear that Localism might = nimbyism; a thorough GTAA process can help to provide the evidence necessary in the argument to develop a new site in an area. Engage with local politicians in the GTAA process to help inform them on the evidence so they can back site development where appropriate (JRF study 2007).

9. Benchmarking and Consistency Variation in methods between studies, in the absence of the exercise as part of Regional Strategies, could lead to difficulty in reading across between local studies. More research needed – perhaps a study in the East Midlands for the future? GTAAs look at long time frame over plan periods; this is a challenge when there isn’t a single Gypsy/Traveller community and population patterns are fluid. Need a wider framework for analysis to achieve duty to ‘co-operate’.

10. Deliverability Since the last round of GTAAs under the Regional Strategy regime – how successful have local authorities been on delivering against pitch requirements? Evidence to suggest that most growth on private sites – but what about lower income families that need social accommodation? Alternative models?

11. Conclusion GTAAs are still a necessary and appropriate method of collecting the evident required under the new PPTS. Councils can get more out of it than just a pitch number – helps to engage with neighbouring councils and with members of the community. It is important to allow enough time for completion of a robust GTAA, a 3 month desk-top exercise refreshing the data will not reap the wider rewards. Next step is to identify land – 5 year supply. Challenges in achieving this which show in some areas lack of progress in delivering pitch requirements in previous GTAAs. Consistency between studies in the absence of Regional Strategies – further study needed in the East Midlands?

12. Thank you.