Planners will meet tomorrow to consider a proposed traveller camp near Kingsteignton. Teign Housing, who have submitted the plans already run a similar site at Haldon Forest.

The site is located at Horsemills Field, a former construction compound adjacent to the road that links Kingsteignton with Chudleigh. Plans for 15 permanent pitches, welfare buildings, a community meeting room and an amenity/play space have been submitted by the social housing charity.

Each pitch would feature its own garden and ‘welfare block’ including toilets and a bathroom. The proposed pitches are approximately 20m x 20m in size. With enough space to park a mobile home, touring caravan, a 5m x 10m area for amenity and parking. There will also be a permanent amenity block building that would comprise toilet, washroom, bathroom facilities and a bin store to the rear.

The amenity blocks and the main community meeting room building would be a timber clad single storey structure. A nature conservation meadow has also been proposed around the perimeter of the site.

Planners noted some of the difficulties faced when sourcing suitable traveller sites: ’Conversations with the Gypsy and Traveller forum have indicated that there is a preference for the pitches not be within a residential site. It is accepted that some level of separation between the pitches and residential development may reduce the potential for tension between residents.’

‘Finding appropriate sites for Gypsy and Traveller pitches is not always easy. The sites need to be in a sustainable location and have a willing landowner. In this case the application has been made by a reputable housing association that already runs a successful site at Haldon forest.’

Planners will assess the plans at the Planning Committee meeting at Forde House at 10am.