Gypsy and Traveller sites.
Access for vehicles towing caravans and trailers is the transport issue most often raised on Gypsy and Traveller sites. We design and evidence an access that works.
Main guide: Site access design
Sites are frequently on rural roads where visibility, lane width and turning space for long vehicles need careful checking. The location and access to services are also part of the planning assessment.
What the council focuses on
Visibility at the access, whether vehicles towing caravans can enter, turn and leave safely, the suitability of the lane, and how far the site is from schools, healthcare and shops.
The evidence that answers it
- An access drawing with visibility splays based on measured speeds where needed.
- Swept path analysis for a vehicle towing a touring caravan or mobile home delivery.
- Internal turning and parking for each pitch.
- Distances and routes to local services.
Mobile home deliveries
Static caravans and mobile homes arrive on low loaders. Showing that the delivery can be made, or how it will be managed, avoids a common point of objection.
What the application usually needs
- An access design with visibility to the right standard.
- Swept paths for vehicles towing caravans and for mobile home deliveries.
- Internal turning and parking for each pitch.
- A note on the suitability of the approach road.
- Walking access to local facilities where relevant.
A typical case
A typical case is a family site of four pitches on a rural lane, each with a static caravan, a touring caravan and a utility building. The highway authority asks about visibility at the access and whether caravans can enter and leave safely. We survey speeds, draw splays within the applicant’s land, show a towing vehicle turning in and out in one movement, and provide space on site so vehicles never wait on the road.
Technical points
National planning policy for traveller sites sits alongside the NPPF in England. Static caravans and mobile homes are delivered on low loaders, which need wider swept paths than a car and caravan. Gates should be set back so vehicles clear the road while they are opened. Where a pitch includes business vehicles, we include them in the trip assessment.
If highways raise concerns
Concerns usually relate to visibility at the access or the suitability of the lane. A speed survey, measured visibility and swept paths for towing vehicles normally address them. Where visibility crosses third-party land, we check the highway boundary, as verges are often part of the highway.
If a refusal has been issued, we review the reason and prepare evidence for an appeal.
How we help
We prepare the access design and a proportionate transport note, and can support appeals where highway safety is a reason for refusal.
The same questions arise in Scotland and Wales, where they are assessed against NPF4 and Scottish guidance or Planning Policy Wales and TAN 18 rather than the NPPF.
To get a quote, send us:
- The site address or a location plan.
- A plan showing the pitches, access and any utility buildings.
- Photos of the access and the road in each direction.
- Any pre-application advice or highways comments you already have.
Questions we get asked
What do highways officers look at for a traveller site?
Mainly the access visibility, swept paths for towing vehicles and space to turn on site.
Do mobile home deliveries need special access?
They need wider swept paths for the delivery vehicle. We check these and, where necessary, plan a temporary route.
Is a speed survey worth it?
Often, on rural roads where actual speeds are well below the limit. It can reduce the visibility needed.
How far back should the gate be?
Far enough for a vehicle and caravan to pull clear of the road. We show this on the plan.
Do you support appeals for traveller sites?
Yes. See our Marks Tey appeal summary for an example of access evidence at appeal.
Related guidance.
Visibility splays explained
Read
HGVs on a rural lane
Read
A rural access can be acceptable without meeting every guideline
Read
Related services: Site access design · Swept path analysis · Highways appeals.
Guidance and sources
- GOV.UK: National Planning Policy FrameworkEngland. National policy on transport in planning decisions.
- GOV.UK: Travel Plans, Transport Assessments and StatementsEngland. Planning guidance on proportionate transport evidence.
Sources checked 8 November 2026. General information, not advice on a specific site.
Got a site in mind?
Send us the location and what is proposed. We will tell you what the council is likely to ask for, with a fixed fee.