Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what powers his Department has made available to councils to deal with illegal Traveller sites; and if he will make a statement.

Through the Localism Act we have strengthened enforcement measures, supporting local authorities to tackle unauthorised development by those who choose to ignore planning rules. These measures include powers to deal effectively with retrospective and misleading planning applications and an increase in the maximum fine for non-compliance with a notice requiring the conditions on planning permission to be met.

We have also lifted the previous Administration’s restrictions on the use of Temporary Stop Notices to enable councils to take early and effective action against unauthorised sites.

Our planning policy for traveller sites, issued in March 2012, removed the last Administration’s planning guidance (Circular 01/06) which restricted the ability of councils to initiate enforcement action. We are currently consulting on, amongst other matters, whether further improvements can be made to planning policy and guidance to deter intentional unauthorised occupation of land and to assist councils faced with large unauthorised developments.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/planning-and-travellers-proposed-changes-to-planning-policy-and-guidance

There are a range of powers available to deal with unauthorised sites and encampments. We have reviewed those powers and in August 2013 sent all council leaders updated guidance, reminding them to act swiftly against unauthorised occupation of public and private land. This was published on our website at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/dealing-with-illegal-and-unauthorised-encampments-a-summary-of-available-powers.