Greater Norwich Local Plan sees plans drawn up for gypsy sites

Officials are launching a new search for suitable sites for gypsies and travellers.

The exercise is part of the process of drawing up the Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP), a blueprint for where 50,000 new homes could be built in Norwich, south Norfolk and Broadland by 2038.

Government officials, who will approve the scheme, say it will not be rubber-stamped until sites for 18 to 20 pitches have been earmarked.

This has proved a stumbling block as the three district authorities involved – Norwich, Broadland and South Norfolk Council – have yet to agree any sites.

Three locations previously identified – in Cawston, Costessey and Wymondham – were rejected by South Norfolk Council.

In July, council leader John Fuller (pictured) condemned the process of selecting sites as “clearly unreasonable”.

He also rejected the government inspectors’ suggestion that the entire GNLP could fail without the pitches being allocated, accusing them of “gambling” with the plan.

Instead, he called for a separate gypsy and travellers plan to be created.

In a new written exchange, government inspectors have warned against this approach, saying it could slow down the process and potentially reduce the number of proposed mixed-use sites – areas used for general housing and traveller pitches.

The inspectors added: “We are also not persuaded that there are good reasons to treat gypsies and travellers differently from the settled community in not allocating sites for housing for this group of people in the plan.”

GNLP officers are now seeking a scheme acceptable to the three councils, which must agree unanimously for it to move forward.

They have told the inspectors they will seek to identify a greater range of possible sites, allowing for more choice and geographical spread.

Council representatives intend to speak to the gypsy and traveller communities in the hope of mapping potential sites by mid-October.

Subject to sign-off by the councils’ cabinets, a public consultation could be held in January, 2023.