Gypsy and Traveller caravan count: January 2023

On 19 January 2023 there were 1,066 Gypsy and Traveller caravans and 142 sites reported in Wales.

Between January 2022 and January 2023, the total number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans stayed approximately the same (1,066 caravans in January 2023 compared to 1,065 in January 2022) , as did the total number of sites (142 authorised and unauthorised sites in January 2023, compared to 140 in January 2022).

At the time of the January 2023 count, the total number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans in Wales was 1,066. There were 927 caravans on authorised sites with planning permission, accounting for 87% of all caravans. Of these, 612 (66%) were on socially rented sites and 315 (34%) were on privately funded sites. Cardiff, Flintshire, Pembrokeshire, and Neath Port Talbot had the highest total numbers of caravans; combined these accounted for 53% of all caravans.

Figure 1 below shows the breakdown of caravans by authorised and unauthorised status.

Figure 1: Gypsy and Traveller caravans by type of site, January2023

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Description of Figure 1: A pie chart showing the percentage of caravans that are on authorised sites (87%), unauthorised sites on land not owned by Gypsies (8%) and unauthorised sites on land owned by Gypsies (5%).

Source: All Wales caravan count (Welsh Government)

There were 85 caravans on unauthorised sites on land owned by Gypsies and Travellers, accounting for 8% of all caravans. A further 54 caravans (5% of all caravans) were on unauthorised sites on land not owned by Gypsies and Travellers, making a total of 139 caravans on unauthorised sites. This is a 5% decrease in caravans on unauthorised sites since January 2022, when there were 146 caravans on unauthorised sites. The number of unauthorised sites themselves increased from 36 in January 2022 to 37 in January 2023.

Newport had the highest number of caravans on unauthorised sites (26 caravans, accounting for 19% of all caravans on unauthorised sites).

In some cases, caravans are on sites which are unauthorised but the local authority has decided not to seek removal of the encampment. In January 2023 there were 90 caravans on tolerated unauthorised sites. The largest number of these were seen in Vale of Glamorgan where there were 21 caravans on tolerated unauthorised sites. There were 49 caravans on unauthorised sites that were not tolerated in Wales.

Fgures 2 and 3 below show, respectively, the number of caravans and sites by site authorisation.

Detailed local authority level tables are provided in the ODS spreadsheet found under the data tab. Further background and quality information can be found in the quality information section. Terms which have a special meaning are explained in the glossary.

Figure 2: Number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans by site authorisation, January 2018 to January 2023 [Note 1] [Note 2]

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Description of Figure 2: A stacked bar chart showing the number of caravans on authorised and unauthorised sites. The number of caravans on authorised sites has remained consistent since January 2018, while there was a decrease in the number of caravans on unauthorised sites between July 2022 and January 2023.

Sources: Gypsy and Traveller caravan count, All Wales caravan count (Welsh Government)

[Note 1] Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Welsh Government’s biannual caravan census count was not conducted in Wales in July 2020.

[Note 2] From January 2021 onwards, the All Wales Caravan Count online data has been used to produce counts of Gypsy and Traveller caravans in Wales. As such, some caution is advised when considering trends across time. Please see data quality report for more information.

Figure 3: Number of Gypsy and Traveller sites by authorisation, January 2011 to January 2023 [Note 1] [Note 2]

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Description of Figure 3: A grouped bar chart showing the number of sites by authorisation. After a period of steady increases, the number of authorised sites has levelled off in recent years. There was a decrease in the number of unauthorised sites between July 2022 and January 2023.

Source: Gypsy and Traveller caravan count, All Wales caravan count (Welsh Government)

[Note 1] Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Welsh Government’s biannual caravan census count was not conducted in Wales in July 2020.

[Note 2] From January 2021 onwards, the All Wales Caravan Count online data has been used to produce counts of Gypsy and Traveller caravans in Wales. As such, some caution is advised when considering trends across time. Please see data quality report for more information.

There were 409 pitches on Gypsy and Traveller sites provided by local authorities in Wales on 19 January 2023. Of these, 407 were residential pitches and 2 were transit pitches.

Cardiff, Pembrokeshire and Neath Port Talbot had the highest number of pitches provided by local authorities (80, 73 and 67 pitches respectively) accounting for over half of the total number of pitches (54%). There were 8 local authorities that reported having no pitches on 19 January 2023. At the time of the count, 97% of the residential pitches were occupied.

Table 1 shows a breakdown over time of the number of pitches in Wales.

Sources: Gypsy and Traveller caravan count, All Wales caravan count (Welsh Government)

[x] = Not available.

[Note 1] Alternatively known as Socially Rented Sites. Includes sites owned by Registered Social Landlords. Does not include authorised private sites.

[Note 2] Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Welsh Government’s biannual caravan census count was not conducted in Wales in July 2020.

[Note 3] From January 2021 onwards, the All Wales Caravan Count online data has been used to produce counts of Gypsy and Traveller caravans in Wales. As such, some caution is advised when considering trends across time. Please see data quality report for more information.

Detailed information on data quality and methodology can be found in the quality report.

Statistician: Andy O’Rourke
Email: stats.inclusion@gov.wales

Media: 0300 025 8099

SFR 33/2022