Gypsy and Traveller provision
The Government's Planning Policy for Travellers clarifies that traveller sites are
inappropriate development in the Green Belt. It advises that local authorities can
make exceptional limited alterations to Green Belt boundaries to accommodate site inset within the Green Belt to meet specific identified need for traveller sites. Lt advises that if land is removed from the Green Belt in this way, it should be
"specifically allocated in the development plan as a traveller site only".

It is noted that Sevenoaks do not propose to remove the sites from the Green Belt, but rather to adopt a policy which includes criteria to be taken into account when proposals come forward. It is considered that this approach is not consistent with national policy as traveller sites are inappropriate development in the Green Belt. The consequence is that, order to meet their needs, Sevenoaks relies upon preempting the future demonstration of very special circumstances. There is also concern that travellers recently displaced from Sevenoaks due to a lack of sites may not have been reflected in the GTAA and that the allocations for 50 additional pitches may not meet need in full over the plan period.

Bromley would like these concerns to be taken into account in developing the final Sevenoaks' Local Plan in order to ensure that Sevenoaks have a robust Draft Local
Plan that will withstand examination and to protect the quality of life of Bromley's communities. We look forward to continuing cooperation on cross-boundary matters.