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It's brilliant what the social housing sector can do when it comes together! Over the last couple of years, a small (but growing) group of housing providers have met up to share ideas and advice on how to deliver much needed Gypsy and Traveller sites in their areas. Far from deciding that this is ‘too difficult’ or that it is a ‘specialism’ that they don’t have the capacity for in their organisation, these people have noticed an accommodation need and, as housing providers, realised that they can and should deliver.

The group was created in 2017. This happened after I met the inimitable Boris Worrall, CEO at Rooftop Housing. The sites at Rooftop had been included in a research study for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and we discussed what needed to be done next. This was so refreshing to be talking with a housing provider looking to engage with others to do something!  We already have a lot of evidence which explains the accommodation need for sites, and the challenges facing Gypsy and Traveller communities.

What we know already

We know that national political and media discourse can create real conflict for planning authorities, housing providers and communities seeking to provide Gypsy and Traveller accommodation. The All Party Parliamentary Group for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma have collated evidence and made recommendations on this issue, providing cross-party political leadership. There are strategic planning challenges, but these can be overcome with careful thought and negotiation, as found in LGA funded research for Mid-Devon District Council (2020). Negotiation is also key in relation to ‘unauthorised encampments’, and councils who take a strategic accommodation-led approach, rather than an automatic eviction response, have found, in many cases, that there are better outcomes for the community, public purse and local people when this type of approach is adopted. Recent research funded by the Greater London Authority provides evidence and information on how this approach could create social and economic benefits across the country.

There are issues that need strategic resolution by central government, for example the definition of ‘Gypsies and Travellers’ in national planning guidance in England – research for the EHRC (2019) highlighted the equalities impact of this new definition. But this does not stop councils and housing associations from working together to address the need for sites accommodation that they know exists in their areas.

We know that planning for, and delivery of, high-quality, successful Gypsy Traveller sites is possible, and we found examples across the UK in JRF funded research in 2016 and we have further examples of good practice and ideas in our new guide from the National Policy Advisory Panel on Gypsy & Traveller housing. 

What we need to do next

Gypsy and Travellers sites are just another form of housing, there are special considerations around planning, and a range of issues to consider around the location, design, financing, planning, delivering, letting and managing sites – just as there are for other types of social housing. We already have a wealth of research around the reasons why site delivery is so important, we already hear the voices of advocacy groups and charities talking about not only the needs, but the strengths and assets of Gypsy Traveller communities. What we need to do next is to provide a knowledge sharing platform for housing providers to look at the ways that they can deliver sites as part of their wider portfolio of development. This is what we do in the housing sector – we build and manage homes. 

Read the 10-minute guide, book on the accompanying online workshop facilitated by the National Housing Federation, if you have any questions, or get in contact us to join the National Policy Advisory Panel on Gypsy & Traveller housing to find out more.  But please, let's stop talking about accommodation needs, and move the debate into action – let’s build safe, secure, affordable homes for all.