Caravan Sites Bill (HL Bill 19)

1 Provision of sites by English local authorities

(1) It shall be the duty of every local authority in England being a district council,
unitary council, metropolitan or borough council or London borough council,
to grant planning permission for Gypsy and Traveller caravan sites sufficient
5to provide accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers residing in or resorting
to their area.

(2) Facilitating the provision of adequate caravan site accommodation shall
include the identification of sufficient land for such accommodation in the
development plan.

(3) 10Any local authority as referred to in subsection (1) above may defray or
contribute towards expenditure incurred or to be incurred under this section
by any other authority.

(4) In determining what caravan site accommodation is required in its area, a local
authority as referred to in subsection (1) shall have regard to the
15accommodation needs assessment carried out in compliance with section 225
of the Housing Act 2004 (accommodation needs of gypsies and travellers).

(5) The Secretary of State may, if at any time it appears to him or her to be
necessary so to do, give directions to any such local authority to which
subsection (1) applies, requiring them to grant planning permission for such
20caravan sites or additional caravan sites, for the accommodation of such
numbers of caravans, as may be specified in the direction.

(6) Any such direction given under subsection (5) shall be enforceable, on the
application of the Secretary of State, by court order.

2 Interpretation

In this Act the following expressions have the following meanings—

• “caravan” has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Caravan Sites and
  Control of Development Act 1960;

• 5“development plan” has the same meaning as in the Town and Country
  Planning Act 1990;

• “Gypsies and Travellers” means—

  (a)

  persons with a cultural tradition of nomadism or of living in a
  caravan; and

  (b)

  10all other persons of a nomadic habit of life, whatever their race
  or origin, including—

  (i)

  such persons who, on grounds only of their own or their
  family’s or dependant’s educational or health needs or
  old age, have ceased to travel temporarily or
  15permanently; and

  (ii)

  members of an organised group of travelling
  showpeople or circus people (whether or not travelling
  together as such).

3 Extent, commencement and short title

(1) 20This Act does not extend to Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

(2) This Act shall come into force on the day on which it is passed.

(3) This Act may be cited as the Caravan Sites Act 2012.