8. Gypsy and Traveller Sites May 2007 - Hambleton District Council

3.2 Policy DP14 does not distinguish between permanent and temporarypermissions for gypsy and traveller sites. The Council could, therefore, granttemporary permissions, if appropriate to do so, in accordance with paragraphs45 and 46 of ODPM Circular 1/2006 [NCD41] in advance of the Gypsy andTraveller Development Plan Document and in accordance with Circular 11/95The Use of Planning Conditions in Planning Permissions [part only: NCD62].The final point made by Government Office is that the timescale for completinga Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment should be included withinthe policy. However, as stated above by the Council, a detailed assessment forthe North Yorkshire Sub-region is only now being commissioned. Dependingon the outcomes of the assessment, a separate Development Plan Documentmay be produced for gypsies and travellers, by the Council, but that decisionwould need to be taken through the Local Development Scheme process nextyear.3.3 Regarding Mr. and Mrs. Hall’s objection to Policy DP14, the Council feels it isnot appropriate to include a reference to specific sites at this stage in theDevelopment Policies DPD [LCD60]. The Council does acknowledge, ofcourse, that Mr. and Mrs. Hall’s site at Sowerby, Thirsk has been grantedplanning permission (July 2006) for a gypsy site for a single family includingstorage and restoration of horse-drawn vehicles. Nor does the Council agreethat reference to when personal conditions are appropriate should be includedwithin DP14 as this matter is dealt with in Circular 11/95 – the Use ofConditions in Planning Permissions, para 93 [part only: NCD62]. An alternativecourse of action for Mr. and Mrs. Hall to take would be to make an applicationto vary the personal condition.3.4 The Council, having considered the Government Office and Mr. & Mrs. Hall’srepresentations has concluded that Policy DP14, provides a clear and robustframework for meeting the identified needs for gypsy and traveller sites arisingfrom regional and local assessments.(ii)Is it reasonably flexible to enable it to deal with unexpectedchanges in circumstances?Representations received to the Submission Development Policies DPDUnsound/SoundNo representations received as such regarding this sub-issue.The Council’s Response3.5 The Council feels that the use of a number of criteria will inevitably make thepolicy flexible as some criteria will apply to some sites and other criteria toothers. For example, in the opening paragraph of Policy DP14, it states thatpermission will be granted for gypsy and traveller accommodation where theproposal ‘would represent a way of meeting an established need’. Thedefinition of ‘established need’ is deliberately left imprecise to allow flexibility ofinterpretation. However, the underlying point is that the proposal will meet anestablished need and that will require to be demonstrated at the time a planningapplication comes forward.3.6 The Council, having considered this issue has concluded that Policy DP14 isreasonably flexible to deal with unexpected changes in circumstances.Hambleton Local Development Framework Development PoliciesExamination Statement 8: Gypsy and Traveller SitesMay 20078