Four gypsy-traveller pitches approved near Iver despite neighbour concerns

Plans for four sets of gypsy-traveller pitches have been given the go-ahead despite concerns from neighbours that it would devalue their homes.

The Wards, Nevins and McDonaghs submitted four sets of plans between them for land to the north of Bellswood Lane at the Three Acre Farm site in Iver near Slough.

Each application proposed to site a static caravan and two touring caravans on existing tarmac hardstanding, has now been approved.

Plans state that the council previously decided not to take enforcement against hardstanding on the land, which is now ‘lawful’ as it has existed for ‘well over ten years’.

A design statement reads: “Changes to the National Planning Policy Framework in December 2024 identify that the land is now grey belt.”

The document adds that the site is previously developed and ‘does not contribute strongly’ to the purposes of green belt land and ‘as such the development cannot be regarded as being inappropriate’.

‘Grey belt’ land is a term used by the government to describe green belt land such as the Three Acre Farm site, which is deemed to be poor quality.

A statement by the families’ agent Stuart Carruthers concludes by saying that previous pitches on the land were banned.

It reads: “The Bellswood Lane Gypsy / Traveller site was closed in 2005 as it was considered to represent inappropriate development within the Green Belt.

“This is no longer the case. The need for accommodation remains, and the site's development will meet a pressing need for accommodation.”

The design statement also claims the site is ‘unlikely’ to have been subject to contamination as there appears to have been no fly-tipping on the land.

It also says the land does not impact on views into the site from public rights of way or the Colne Valley Regional Park and the site is of ‘negligible biological value’.

The applicants claim that the council does not currently have an adequate supply of gypsy-traveller sites.

Their plans say: “The site has been designed to meet an existing need for accommodation and take account of any constraints and should be approved.”

Floor plans submitted as part of the applications show a two-bedroom static caravan with a bathroom, kitchen and small living area.

The existing access to the site is ‘overgrown’, according to the plans, which explain that there ‘is good visibility’ to the east and west along Bellswood Lane and adequate visibility and that traffic on Bellswood Lane will be ‘safe’.

A site description also submitted as part of the plans says there is evidence of ‘former buildings and human habitation’ on the site, which appears to have been vacated in about 2005.