The Labour government is under mounting pressure to crack down on illegal Traveller sites across the English countryside, following new data showing the number of caravans on unauthorised land has jumped by a fifth in just one year.
A Sharp Rise in Unauthorised Encampments
Ministers have been accused of adopting a 'soft-touch approach' after official statistics published in December revealed that 4,464 mobile homes were parked on land without planning permission this summer. This marks the highest total recorded since 2013.
The most significant increase was seen on land owned by Travellers themselves, with 3,880 caravans counted on such plots. This represents a rise of 677, or 21 per cent, compared to the previous year. Critics argue this indicates some are exploiting the planning system by developing land first and seeking permission later.
High-Profile Cases and Community Tensions
The issue has been highlighted by several prominent cases, often in the Home Counties, where groups have purchased greenfield land, rapidly laid hardstanding or tarmac, and moved caravans onto the site before submitting retrospective planning applications.
One contentious case occurred near Guildford, Surrey, where a field was reportedly concreted overnight in November, close to an affluent neighbourhood. The applicants have now sought part-retrospective permission for a permanent six-pitch site, with a decision expected in January. Local Liberal Democrat MP Zoe Franklin told the Mail of residents' concerns over 'noise nuisance, anti-social behaviour and the impact to the environment'.
Another site has been established in Berkshire, close to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) at Aldermaston, where locals have expressed anxiety and a petition has been launched against the construction of 13 static homes. West Berkshire Council issued a stop notice, but unauthorised work has continued.
Political Pressure and Policy Response
Conservative MPs are urging the government to grant police new powers to remove people from land lacking planning permission, even if they own it. However, the response from ministers has focused on existing local authority enforcement powers.
Tory shadow communities secretary Sir James Cleverly accused Labour of a cover-up, stating: 'The Government should be taking action, but things are so bad that Labour are instead trying to cover it up by stopping the publication of statistics on illegal sites.'
In a written response, Labour Communities Minister Matthew Pennycook maintained that it is for local councils to enforce against unauthorised development. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a consultation on reducing the frequency of Traveller caravan counts from twice to once a year, citing the 'resource intensive' nature of the surveys.
The data pinpointed Basildon in Essex and Havering in outer east London as having the most caravans on unauthorised sites, followed by Waverley in Surrey and Bromley on London's south-eastern fringe.
The broader picture shows the total number of Traveller caravans in England reached 28,589, an increase of 1,152 (4 per cent) on the previous year. Advocacy group Friends, Families and Travellers has blamed a severe shortage of official sites for the problem, arguing that families are denied access to sanitation, healthcare, and education without a safe place to stop.
