The Cabinet of Barking and Dagenham Council met on Tuesday 23 May 2023 to discuss the provision of gypsy and traveller sites as part of the LBBD Draft Local Plan. The meeting resolved to commit to the provision of a state-of-the-art, modern Gypsy and Traveller site within the strategic proposals for the Castle Green Transformation Area.

LBBD Draft Local Plan: Provision of Gypsy and Traveller Sites in Barking and Dagenham

The Cabinet discussed the critical need to address the provision of gypsy and traveller sites to ensure the soundness of the LBBD Draft Local Plan 2037. Councillor Cameron Geddes, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, presented a report detailing the challenges in identifying suitable sites to meet the assessed need for 25 additional pitches by 2037.

Previously, three sites – Choats Road, Collier Row Road, and an extension to the existing Eastbrookend Country Park site – were proposed. However, the landowners of Choats Road and Collier Row Road have since withdrawn their land, leaving only the Eastbrookend Country Park extension as a potential option. This extension, however, can only provide 12 pitches and faces objections due to its location within the Green Belt.

Despite extensive efforts, including a Call for Sites process and the assessment of over 60 potential locations, no other suitable sites have been identified that meet the necessary criteria for access to services, environmental quality, and flood risk. One site, 47 Thames Road, was identified as potentially suitable but is unavailable due to financial and social implications and its planned inclusion in the Thames Road Transformation Zone. This leaves a shortfall of 13 pitches, posing a significant risk to the adoption of the Local Plan.

To address this, the Cabinet resolved to commit to the provision of a state-of-the-art, modern Gypsy and Traveller site within the strategic proposals for the Castle Green Transformation Area. This long-term vision aims to accommodate the Borough's future requirements for its Gypsy and Traveller community, potentially allowing for the eventual closure of the existing Eastbrookend Country Park site and its reintegration into the park.

The Cabinet was reminded that this decision does not constitute planning permission, which remains the responsibility of the Planning Committee. Any future planning applications for new sites would undergo extensive public consultation. The meeting also highlighted the need to address the current management issues at the Eastbrookend Country Park site.

The decision to proceed with these recommendations was made to ensure the Local Plan can move forward to the examination stage, which is crucial for delivering the Council's wider regeneration objectives, including the development of over 44,000 new homes and 20,000 jobs.

The Cabinet unanimously agreed to the recommendations, acknowledging the importance of providing for all residents of the Borough, including the Gypsy and Traveller community, in line with the Council's commitment to being an inclusive borough.