Interim Gypsy/Traveller site design guide

6. Permanent Sites – Facilities and Amenities

6.1 Fire Safety

New sites and site buildings should comply with building standards in relation to Fire Safety, including:

Standard 2.12 – Every building and pitch must be accessible to fire and rescue service.

Standard 2.13 – Every site must be provided with a water supply for use by the fire and rescue service

Once building work is complete, ongoing fire safety obligations are imposed on Duty Holders by Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (the 2005 Act) and supporting regulations. In the case of Gypsy/Traveller sites provided by local authorities or RSLs, the Duty Holder is the local authority or RSL providing the site. Gypsy/Traveller sites are considered to be "relevant premises", so are covered by the 2005 Act and supporting regulations.

A mobile home or caravan which is used by someone as their residence, whether as owner or tenant, will be "domestic premises" and not "relevant premises" (and so are not covered by the 2005 Act). The pitch however, will be subject to the spacing requirements to meet the appropriate fire safety measures preventing fire spread between pitches. This must be considered within the fire safety risk assessment.

6.2 Fire Safety Risk Assessment

A pre-occupation appraisal of fire safety is recommended to ensure the site is fit for occupation and that appropriate physical fire safety measures are in place. Once the site is operational, this should be followed by a full Fire Safety Risk Assessment (FSRA) in accordance with Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006. The FSRA should be carried out by a competent person with appropriate skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours. In this respect, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, as the Enforcing Authority of the aforementioned legislation, cannot undertake the role.

All other "relevant premises" within the site (under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005), should be subject to an FSRA. These may fall under different uses, for example offices.

It is important to know whether an external fire risk assessor is competent but this might be difficult to ascertain. Using registered or third-party certificated assessors to carry out fire safety risk assessments is one way to establish competence. The Scottish Government and SFRS recommend selecting a person or company that is third party certificated by a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited Certification Body or an assessor registered with a recognised Professional Registration Scheme. SFRS maintains a list of UKAS and other recommended schemes on its website. SFRS has not assessed and does not endorse individuals or companies participating in these schemes but assessor participation can offer a degree of assurance that individuals or companies have met certain professional requirements. Simply operating in the fire sector or having previous fire service experience is no guarantee of competence.

Guidance on caravan sites can be found at annex 3 of Practical Fire Safety Guidance For Existing Premises with Sleeping Accommodation which sets out the following benchmarks in relation to spacing and car parking:

• Subject to variations, the distance between any two units should generally be not less than 6 m for permanent residential sites.
• The 6 m distance between units may be reduced where caravan construction is inherently fire-resistant. Under such circumstances, the distance may be reduced to 5 m. Where there is a mix of fire-resistant and non fire-resistant construction, the larger separation distances apply.
• The distance from any part of a tent or caravan to any site road should be not less than 2 m, and not less than 3 m from any site boundary.

Chapter 5 of the above guidance provides general guidance on the use and storage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). For buildings, standard 4.11 of the building standards also applied to tanks and cylinders supplying fixed appliances.

6.3 Access to Internet and Broadband Services

Fibre broadband should be considered as being the equivalent of a utility service and site providers should be able to show that they have taken account of current and future digital services or installation needs. This is particularly important as more services and education are delivered digitally. Installations and delivery options should take account of how residents will use the service. For example, occupancy periods may not be long enough for residents to take out their own contract so consideration could be given to inclusion of Wi-Fi costs in pitch fees. As a minimum:

• Potential for a private connection should be provided to each pitch/amenity block so that residents can take up their own contract; and
• Free Wi-Fi should be provided in community meeting facilities.

Gypsy/Travellers have told us that being able to access the internet is important to them to access essential services and education and to be able to work. However, some would use free Wi-Fi while others would want to be able to control their own contract.

6.4 Roads

In line with building standards (2.12 fire and rescue service access) roads must be designed to provide adequate access for emergency vehicles. Routes for emergency vehicles must be kept clear of obstructions at all times. Where necessary, suitable vehicle turning areas should be provided.

Roads must:

• not be less than 3.7 metres wide.
• be constructed of hard durable materials (such as suitable bitumen macadam or concrete with a suitable compacted base) and must be provided so that no mobile home or caravan is more than 45 metres from a road.
• be capable of carrying vehicles with an axle loading of 14 tonnes as a minimum.

All gateways/entrance/exits to the site must be a minimum of 3.5 metres wide and have a minimum height clearance of 3.7 metres for vehicular access and be accessible at any time.

Dead end route - fire and rescue service vehicles should not have to reverse more than 20 metres from the end of an access road. Where any dead-end route is more than 20 metres long, turning facilities should be provided.

The site should be designed to try to control the speed of vehicles, where appropriate, suitable additional measures (e.g. signage or speed bumps) should be provided.

6.5 Footpaths

Gypsy/Travellers have told us that footpaths or pavements on a site are essential so that people, especially children, can walk safely between pitches. Suitable paths should be provided to allow safe pedestrian movement around the site.

The surface of paths must be hard, firm, even and slip resistant; cobbles and setts should be avoided. Manhole covers, gratings, etc. must be flush with the surrounding surface and any grille bars should be set at right angles to the direction of travel. Paths should be provided with a drainage system to remove surface water from paved surfaces such as access routes.

Where accommodation is provided for disabled and wheelchair users, the appropriate requirements should be met. To comply with Housing for Varying Needs, footpaths should generally have a minimum width of 1800 mm, but a minimum of 1200 mm is acceptable for short lengths or in paths leading to no more than four pitches.

6.6 Drainage

All underground drainage within the site servicing buildings/pitches will be subject to building regulations standards 3.6 to 3.9)

6.7 Fencing

Gypsy/Travellers have told us that they prefer fencing and gates around individual pitches, so that children can't wander on to the road and so that they can look after their own space. Where appropriate, gates should be sliding instead of hinged to allow for vehicle access and to save space.

In order to facilitate residents changing the caravan accommodation they own the use of moveable fencing and gates could be considered.

There should be no impact from fencing on visibility which may cause potential road safety issues, for example at pitch entrances/exits.

Any fencing proposals should ensure that appropriate distancing is maintained and the fence itself does not contribute to fire spread between units.

6.8 Landscaping

Housing to 2040 recognises the importance of quality green space. Landscaping and green space on a site is important to residents. These aspects of the design of a site are just as important as meeting the necessary standards.

Gypsy/Travellers have told us they would like to see "green space/garden for planting so that the pitch is not all concrete" and "less steel, less concrete and more of a softer nature in design". Respondents to Online Survey, January – March 2021

Site landscaping that provides a mix of durable, paved areas with some good quality, natural landscaping - grassed areas, shrubs and trees should be provided. It should be clear who is responsible for looking after green spaces to make sure that they are well kept.

Appropriate landscaping could be used as a means of avoiding the unintended use of spacing left to meet fire safety requirements.

Scottish Natural Heritage's report on maximising the benefits of green infrastructure in social housing should be considered.^[2]

6.9 Cultural and Artistic Features

Art and design could be used to celebrate culture and history on a site. Responses to the online survey told us that some sites are not welcoming, homely places with too much concrete and steel. Artistic features along with softer landscaping may help to address this.

6.10 Play Parks / Communal Outdoor Space

A safe communal recreation / play area for children of all ages is required on sites where suitable provision is not available within reasonable walking distance from the site on a safe route. Play areas should be designed in consultation with children and parents. This toolkit on improving play opportunities by Play Scotland may be useful.

Gypsy/Travellers have told us that it is important that children can be seen where they are playing, it may be appropriate to provide green space between pitches where families could put out their own play equipment and keep an eye on the children if it is not possible to locate a play park near enough to the pitches to enable the children to be seen. The area allocated for children's play must take into account the number of children it has to accommodate. Fields In Trust have guidance on designing play parks.

Learning through Landscapes provides information on enhancing outdoor learning and play for children. While predominately school focused, they provide some useful resources.

Play areas should be located away from vehicular traffic and should be inaccessible to vehicles. In addition they should be fenced, walled or grassed embankments and clearly delineated as a play area. Play areas should be well lit and designated as dog free areas.

Consideration should be given to the provision of other outdoor communal space, as part of the prioritisation of available space.

This could be used for playing or "to pitch a tent and gather to pass on traditions." Gypsy/Traveller, Consultation Event, July 2021

6.11 Community Meeting Facilities

The majority of those consulted believed that a community facility should be provided on sites. Some uses of a community building that have been suggested are: outreach and support work, youth clubs, space for playing music, playgroups, quiet space for children doing homework or tutoring in private, adult education, a community larder, early years' sessions or health clinics.

Community meeting facilities should meet the appropriate building standards and be accessible to disabled people and wheelchair users.

Free Wi-Fi should be provided in community meeting facilities.

6.12 Mail

Residents should have access to their own secure mailbox per pitch which can only be accessed by them. Feedback from residents during the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted that it is inappropriate for site residents to be required to collect their mail from the Site Manager's office. Other arrangements may need to be made for larger items.

6.13 Utilities Account

Some existing site residents have expressed a preference for their own utilities account. Site design and utilities provision should accommodate this unless residents request a different arrangement. Some Gypsy/Travellers have told us that paying through the local authority is cheaper and that residents have opted to stay with this arrangement. A possible disadvantage of local authority provision is access to top ups out of hours, e.g. if the site office is closed. If utilities provision is through the local authority then access for top ups needs to be suitable to meet the needs of residents.

6.14 Office Space

The provision of office space will depend on the particular circumstances of the site. A site manager who is present on the site every day may be particularly important on larger sites and an office will be required in these circumstances.

The site office should be located close to the entrance to the site and provide space where the site manager can have confidential discussions with site residents or visiting professionals.

6.15 Work Space

Research by PAS and the NHS noted the potential need for space for Gypsy/Travellers to work or pursue a trade/business and to be able to pass skills to the next generation.

Depending on the circumstances of the site, consideration should be given to providing workspace and/or storage for materials for residents. Some Gypsy/Travellers have told us that space on the pitch is more important than a separate work area, e.g. to store tools.

"Work storage could be provided in the amenity blocks – tools need to be stored on the pitch to make sure that they are secure." Gypsy/Traveller, Consultation Event, August 2021

If separate manual work space is required this should be on a segregated part of the site or on adjacent land. Residential pitches should be for residential purposes only and potentially hazardous activity on pitches should be discouraged. Residents should be supported to undertake non-hazardous home working, such as teleworking within the residential area of the site, this may take the form of flexible communal space.

Site Design Guides in other parts of the UK suggest that grazing land for animals should be provided. Grazing land has not been identified as a priority through the online survey or discussion with Gypsy/Travellers but this should be discussed with residents.

6.16 Site Security

Gypsy/Travellers have told us that security is a priority. Installing a site entrance barrier or CCTV could be considered. However, this should only be installed after consultation with site residents and after balancing the potential impact on wider community cohesion. An entrance barrier may make site residents feel safer whilst alienating the surrounding community. Local authorities should consider the need for emergency services to access the site if a barrier is proposed. Any CCTV should be focused on the entrance to the site rather than individual pitches. Site design should take into account Secured By Design Principles.

6.17 Car Parking

Space for residents parking is covered under pitch size and the number of vehicles allowed per pitch.

While parking on the pitch is preferable, additional parking may be required for residents and visitors. If this is the case, it may be better to provide several smaller parking areas in view of pitches rather than one larger detached area.

The number of spaces should reflect the size of the site and the needs of the residents.

6.18 Lighting

There must be adequate common or public lighting on the site for safety and security purposes. Residents should be able to move about the site safely at night, both as pedestrians and drivers. Using standard residential street lighting specifications may not be appropriate as this may result in lighting that shines directly into caravans or amenity blocks. Care is needed when designing lighting that balances privacy with security.

6.19 Waste Disposal

Arrangements for domestic waste disposal should be in keeping with those for the settled community. Individual pitches should be provided with suitable containers for domestic refuse in accordance with the local authority arrangements rather than communal bins. The site design should allow enough space for refuse collection vehicles to reach an appropriate point from which waste can be collected.

6.20 Site Name

The site name is an important element in the identity of the site. Gypsy/Travellers have experienced issues with accessing services and employment because their address identifies them as a Gypsy/Traveller. Some residents have chosen to change the name of their site to a residential street name while others have decided that it is important that the site retains the original name. All views should be taken into account through consultation with residents to ensure an appropriate name is chosen.

6.21 Electric Vehicle Charging

The installation of ducting infrastructure for electric charge point connectors should be included, to be able to provide for charging when needed in the future.

6.22 Maintenance and Management of Sites

Provision should be made for maintenance of sites from capital programmes to ensure that they are maintained at a good standard. Management of the site is a key area for consideration to ensure that standards on sites are maintained over time and that they become embedded in the community. The usual methods of maintenance and management for social housing may need adjustment and this should be considered at planning stage.

Gypsy/Travellers have told us that how the site is managed is very important e.g. making sure people keep to site rules and that maintenance and repairs are carried out on time.