Re: “Corporation will pay RSLs to build and manage Gypsy sites” (HT 30 July, page 9).
The ODPM review of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation policy is ongoing, therefore no decisions have been taken about whether a statutory duty should be implemented, contrary to claims in last week’s magazine.
It is true we will soon enable registered social landlords to provide Gypsy and Traveller sites, as well as manage them. However, this will be achieved through secondary legislation, rather than an amendment to the Housing Bill.
Providing appropriate Gypsy and Traveller accommodation relies on both the housing and the planning systems, and here we are mainstreaming Gypsy and Traveller issues within both. As part of this, Housing Needs Assessments will in future include Gypsies and Travellers and Planning Circular 1/94 is being revised to ensure that there are clear and realistic criteria for sites.
Source
Housing Today
Postscript
Keith Hill, minister for housing and planning, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
No comments yet