Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: November 11, 2025

Purpose: Update on work undertaken to deliver Travellers Temporary Stopping Site including review of site(s).

Content: RESOLVED   KEY DECISION   That the Executive:   a)     Noted the update report and recommend that the project to provide a Travellers Temporary Stopping Site be progressed in relation to the proposed revised preferred site on land in the ownership of North Northamptonshire Council off of Junction 11 of the A14 close to the  village of Woodford known as ‘Generals Corner’.   b)     Revoked the decision of 21st December 2023 to provide a Travellers Temporary Stopping site at the previous preferred location on Council land adjacent to Junction 3 of the A14 close to the town of Rothwell.   c)     Agreed that the Temporary Stopping site be progressed as an emergency stopping site with associated facilities.   d)     Delegated authority to the Executive Director for Place and Economy in consultation with the Executive Member for Regulatory Services to submit an application for planning permission for the project and procure the necessary works to provide the Travellers Temporary Stopping site, and undertake any other actions required to deliver the project within the approved budget.     Reasons for Recommendations    •           To procure and undertake the required works in line with the Council’s constitution and financial regulations in relation to governance. •           There is a strategic need to make provision for temporary stopping places to serve the North Northamptonshire area, as demonstrated by the 2019 Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA). •           A revised GTAA is currently being prepared by the Council’s consultants Opinion Research Services (ORS), this is due to report in October 2025.  Initial discussions with ORS indicate that whilst there has been a reduction in numbers of families travelling following COVID, there remains a clear need for temporary stopping site provision locally and nationally. As no facility has been provided since and before 2019, then the recommendation is likely to remain for such provision to be made, evidenced in the 2025 GTAA.  •           Currently there are no temporary stopping places for transient travellers passing through the NNC area to use which would provide safe and secure places to stop with minimum suitable facilities.  •           Provision of a temporary stopping place within the Council’s area would enable the Council and the Police to better manage UEs within the Council’s area and limit the adverse impacts of UEs on settled communities.   Alternative Options Considered   •           There is an option to do nothing, however this would not address the strategic need for a temporary stopping place within the Council area, which provides a safe and secure place to stop with minimum suitable facilities and would not allow the Council and the Police working together to exercise ‘direction’ powers available to them in law to better manage UEs and their impact on settled communities.   •           Alternative locations for temporary stopping places on land in the ownership of the Council were considered prior to submitting the DHLUC Traveller Site Fund bid and disregarded as being unsuitable.   •           A location at the junction of A43 and Northampton Road, Broughton was considered but discounted as it was not on land owned by NNC and there were concerns about its deliverability including securing planning permission.   •           A location on Council land at junction 3 of the A14 close to the village of Rothwell as set out; in the failed bid to the DHLUC Traveller Site Fund in 2022 and the ‘Traveller Temporary Stopping Site land at Junction 3 of the A14, Rothwell’ report to Executive on 21st December 2023. This was the previous preferred site location, but this has been subject to challenges as to its suitability.   •           There is also an option to look for other alternative sites should the Executive not wish to develop the current identified site at off of Junction 11 of the A14 close to the village of Woodford known as ‘Generals Corner’, although it should be noted that a previous review of NNC owned landholdings has not identified any other suitable site locations.