Gypsy/Travellers - accommodation needs: evidence review

7. Examples of housing approaches

7.1 Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

Grouped Housing:

Grouped Housing is a relatively new development in provision for Irish Travellers. According to the Irish Traveller Movement^[20], housing for Irish Travellers was previously poorly designed and mainly situated sites on the outskirts of towns and cities, leaving individuals feeling isolated and without access to local services. This isolation has been found to have a detrimental effect on mental health, and poor site standards, combined with lack of access to basic services, negatively impacted on the physical health of Irish Travellers.

Grouped housing is described as a type of residential housing development with additional facilities and amenities specifically designed to accommodate extended families of the Irish Traveller community on a permanent basis. Piloted in Northern Ireland, these dwellings are small groups of purpose built bungalows or houses in small enclaves, which depending on site size, can also include a community house, play area, stables and grazing. Houses are built to permanent housing standards with large yards to accommodate space for lorries, vans and/or caravans. Sites tend to range from 4 to 16 properties. Consultations were held with the Irish Traveller community in the developing the layout, design and facilities. Tenants are also allowed to travel for prolonged periods of time in agreement with the landlord (Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission 2018).

This scheme was piloted in Northern Ireland in 2002 under the New Policy on accommodation for Gypsy/Travellers, by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. Grouped Housing is run by either the Northern Ireland Housing executive or by individual housing associations.

It is worth noting that grouped housing is considered to be an expensive option, due to the fact that each scheme is specifically designed in consultation with the prospective tenants. Each scheme may have limited longevity, as they were built for particular extended families and any new tenants must claim a connection and compatibility with the core family group. Persistent vacancies are therefore common (Equality Commission for Northern Ireland 2009).

7.2 South Ayrshire, Scotland

South Ayrshire Council^[21]

In 2019, work began on a £1.54 million project, funded by South Ayrshire Council and Scottish Government, to create purpose-built homes in Girvan for Gypsy/Travellers. The project saw six, three-bedroom homes and one six-bedroom property built and replaced a former site which was destroyed by storm damage in 2015.

The site was chosen as it provides good access to schools, public transport, health and other services and because it was a site already known to Gypsy/Travellers. The new site aims to provide a modern living environment while respecting the cultural requirements of the residents. Engagement with residents of the previous site also took place to ensure their needs were met. The site was completed in September 2019.

7.3 Worcestershire, England

Rooftop Housing Association^[22]:

Rooftop Housing Association is an active member of the Worcestershire Gypsy and Roma Traveller Partnership, which aims to improve the lives of the county's Gypsy and Traveller community. Rooftop is involved in a number of projects, such as undertaking the refurbishment of and extension to caravan sites at Houndsfield Lane in Wythall, and delivering a new 11 pitch site at Gables Close in Solihull. They are also currently negotiating to undertake the management of a second site in Solihull.

Rooftop employs a dedicated Gypsy and Traveller Project Manager, who manages and develops new and existing Gypsy and Traveller sites as well as communicating with residents, both on site and in the local area. Rooftop also provides advice and guidance for other organisations that wish to deliver their own affordable housing for Gypsy/Travellers.

The refurbished units at Houndsfield Lane provide kitchen, bathroom and living space for all pitches. Rooftop Housing has responded to the needs of an ageing population on site by ensuring each unit has:

• Wider doorways
• Access ramps
• Wet room style bathrooms

Each plot at the Gables Close site includes two permanent pitches for two caravans, two car parking spaces, and studio accommodation containing a living/bedsit, kitchen, bathroom, storage a utility room. Gables Close also benefits from a large communal open space with play area, eight parking spaces for vans/lorries, 18 visitor parking spaces plus CCTV security.