Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: December 18, 2025

Purpose: Cabinet considered the outcome of the public consultation about the proposal to apply for planning consent for the delivery of a site for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation on land at Shottendane Road.   The consultation responses highlighted a high level of public opposition to the proposal set out in the consultation. Taking the results of the consultation into account, the Cabinet agreed an alternative approach.  

Content: Cabinet agreed to: 1.  Fully consider the findings of the public consultation about the proposals for the land at Shottendane Road, as detailed in annex 3 of the report. 2.  Direct the Local Plan CAG to include land for gypsy and traveller accommodation within the site assessments for the next Local Plan iteration and to advise about an appropriate threshold above which all sites will be required to set aside land for Gypsy and Traveller provision. 3.  In line with recommendation 1, in the event that the land at Shottendane Road is allocated for residential development in the Local Plan, include provision for Gypsy and Traveller pitches within the site master plan, in a way that addresses the relevant planning concerns raised during the consultation wherever possible. 4.  Note the update in relation to the North Thanet Link Road set out in section 5 of the report. 5.  Continue to contact central government in relation to the requirement for further national funding for Gypsy and Traveller provision.  

Reasons for the decision: The decision was made for the following reasons: ·  The responses to the consultation highlighted a high level of public opposition to the proposal set out in the consultation and raised a number of relevant planning concerns that would need to be addressed.  ·  The agreed approach would ensure that many of the concerns raised, including environmental impacts, highways impacts, drainage and community relationships could be addressed and may enable alternative site access arrangements that do not rely on access via Caxton Road, which is already heavily parked and congested.  ·  The decision to wait for the outcome of the next Local Plan review and, if Shottendane Road is allocated for residential development, to integrate the proposed Gypsy and Traveller pitches into a wider development proposal provides for the best opportunity to design a development that best fosters positive community relationships.  ·  The council will be required to make provision within the next Thanet Local Plan for the accommodation needs of Gypsy and Traveller households and therefore suitable sites will need to be identified during preparation of the plan. One option that will need to be considered is whether all new major housing sites should be required to set aside a proportion of land for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation. If this approach is adopted and Shottendane Road is allocated for residential development, any new requirements would equally apply across all major sites.  

Alternative options considered: Cabinet considered a number of options, as follows:   11.1  Agree to submit a planning application in line with the development proposals set out in the consultation document. The responses to the consultation were largely opposed to this approach. This report considers the responses to the consultation and concludes that relevant planning concerns raised during the consultation could be better addressed by integrating new site provision for the Gypsy and Traveller community into future residential housing sites, including Shottendane Road if it is allocated for residential development within the next revision of the Thanet Local Plan. This option was rejected.   11.2  Agree to submit an amended planning application. Although the proposals could be amended prior to submissions in response to concerns about issues such as the loss of agricultural land, other landscape impacts, water and drainage and highways impacts. The details could not be fundamentally changed without more detailed master planning for the whole of the Shottendane Road site. This option was rejected.   11.3  Agree to defer further work on the provision of Gypsy and Traveller pitches on the land at Shottendane Road until the outcome of the next Local Plan review is known. In the event that the land at Shottendane Road is allocated for residential development, include provision for Gypsy and Traveller pitches within the site master plan. The master plan to address the relevant planning concerns raised during the consultation wherever possible. This option was agreed.   11.4  Decide not to include Gypsy and Traveller provision at Shottendane Road and look for options elsewhere. Taking into account the level of identified need this option was rejected. Any Local Plan policy that required future major housing sites to set aside land for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation would include the land at Shottendane Road, if it is allocated for residential development.