Draft guidance for undertaking Gypsy and Traveller accommodation assessments - Annex 1: glossary

Pitch

Land on a mobile home site where occupiers are entitled to station their mobile homes indefinitely (unless stated in their pitch agreement). Typically includes an amenity block, space for a static caravan and touring caravan and parking.

The layout of the pitch will depend on the overall site design. An important element in the design and size of pitches is the intended capacity. Section 60 of the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act defines ‘mobile home’ as measuring up to 20 metres in length and 6.8 metres in width. 

Site

A site will include a range of facilities, (dependant on size of land and requirements), connections to utilities, community building, play area, footpath around the site, public lighting, and fencing/trees to create a perimeter boundary for security and enclosure.

Local authority site

This is a site owned and operated by the local authority. This site will be designated for use as a Gypsy and Traveller site indefinitely. Residents on these sites can expect to occupy their pitches for as long as they abide by the terms of their pitch agreements, under the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013.
Working space may also be provided on, or near, sites for activities carried out by community members.

Private site with planning permission

A private Gypsy and Traveller site refers to private owned land with planning permission that has been officially approved by the local planning authority for permanent residential use by Gypsies and Travellers.

Usually, these sites are small and contain a small number of pitches usually for a family. These sites are private for use by that family only.

Private site without planning permission

Land that has been purchased by a member of the Gypsy and Traveller community, which has not received the necessary planning permission from the local planning authority to be used as a Gypsy and Traveller site.

Temporary/Negotiated stopping place

These are intended to be short-term in nature to assist local authorities where a need for pitches is accepted. 
Provision should be made for waste disposal, water supply and sanitation at a minimum.

These sites only have planning permission or a site licence for a limited period. Residents on these sites can expect to occupy their pitches for the duration of the planning permission or site licence (or as long as they abide by the terms of their pitch agreements, under the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013, whichever is sooner).

Transit pitch

Land on a mobile home site where occupiers are entitled to station their mobile homes for a maximum of 3 months.

Transit pitches can exist on permanent residential sites; however, this is not recommended.

Transit site

Transit sites are permanent facilities designed for temporary use by occupiers for a maximum of three months at a time. Local authorities will be responsible for maintaining the site waste disposal, water supply and sanitation may be made available subject to a charge. 

Specific terms under the Mobile Homes (Wales) Act 2013 apply on these sites. Working space may also be provided on, or near, sites for activities carried out by community members.

Unauthorised encampment

Land occupied without the permission of the owner or without the correct land use planning permission.

Encampments may be used on a temporary basis in the absence of available transit or temporary/negotiated stopping places provision and may be accepted by the local authority, whilst alternative sites are developed.

Bricks and mortar

A house or a flat, often referred to as conventional housing. They may be socially rented, privately rented, or owned.

Current residential supply

The number of local authority pitches which are available and occupied within the local authority or partnership area.

This includes pitches on local authority and private sites.

Current residential demand

Those with a need for local authority pitches for a range of reasons, including:

• an inability to secure a local authority pitch, possibly leading to occupation of unauthorised encampments
• an inability to secure correct planning permission for a private site
• households living in overcrowded conditions and in need of a separate pitch
• households in conventional housing demonstrating cultural aversion
• new households expected to arrive from elsewhere

Future residential demand

The expected level of new household formation which will generate additional demand within the 5-year period of the accommodation assessment and longer LDP period.

Overall residential pitch need

The final calculation of unmet accommodation need which must be identified through the Gypsy and Traveller accommodation assessment process. This figure can be found by adding the immediate residential need to the future residential demand. The overall residential need will capture the needs across the 5-year period of the accommodation assessment.

Planned residential pitch supply

The number of pitches which are vacant and available to rent on local authority or private sites. It also includes pitches which will be vacated in the near future by households moving to conventional housing or out of the local authority area. 

Household

In this guidance this refers to individuals from the same family who live together on a single pitch/house/encampment.

Concealed or ‘doubled-up’ household

This refers to households which are unable to achieve their own local authority pitch and are instead living within a local authority pitch that is assigned to another household).

This may include adult children who have been unable to move home or different households occupying a single pitch.

Household growth

In this guidance household growth is defined by the number of new households arising from households which are already accommodated in the area.

Settled communities

A settled community consists of people who are not members of the Gypsy and Traveller community and reside in bricks and mortar housing.