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As mentioned on previous pages, under section 8 of the Housing Act 1985 local authorities are required to consider the various accommodation needs of the local population, and with recent legislation (Housing Act 2004;Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004) and guidance (Circular 01/2006) the government has committed to resolving the housing needs of members of the Gypsy and Traveller community. This legislation has an overarching aim of ensuring that members of Gypsy and Traveller communities have equal access to decent and appropriate accommodation options akin to each and every other member of society.
The Suffolk Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) 2007 (PDF, 689kb) was commissioned by five authorities in Suffolk (Mid Suffolk District Council, Babergh District Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council, Waveney District Council and Ipswich Borough Council) in June 2006 and the final report produced in May 2007. The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the Salford Housing & Urban Studies Unit at the University of Salford with research support from members of the Gypsy and Traveller community. The study was managed by a steering group composed of officers from the five local authorities.
The research report and finding are available in full or as an Executive Summary (PDF, 82kb).
The evidence and information collected on Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs provides both a local and a regional perspective on this issue. From this and similar studies, the East of England Regional Assembly has specified in the East of England Plan, the number of Gypsy and Traveller pitches that each local authority must now provide. It is for each local authority to identify suitable sites for these pitches within the LDF planning documents.
Gypsy and Traveller Strategy
Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments (GTAAs) are also designed to provide the evidence needed to inform local authority and regional housing strategies. Local Authorities in Suffolk have collaborated under the lead of the Traveller Liaison Officer at Suffolk County Council and produced a Suffolk Gypsy and Traveller Strategy 2007 (PDF, 1.01MB). For more general information please see the Suffolk County Council website. |