All local authorities in Suffolk (including the Police, PCT and Children and Young People's Services) work together to create improved services for Gypsies and Travellers, whilst balancing the needs of settled communities.
A county-wide steering group works to ensure the statutory, voluntary and county sector respond effectively to the welfare of Gypsy and Travellers.
Read the Joint Strategy for Gypsies and Travellers (PDF, 733KB). This is a partnership document for Norfolk and Suffolk.
Gypsy and Traveller sites in Suffolk
Authorised encampments
There are a number of authorised Gypsy and Traveller sites, both council owned and privately owned in Suffolk.
These are spread across districts as shown in the table below.
| District | Pitches |
|---|---|
| Babergh | 1 privately owned site with 1 pitch |
| Forest Heath | 1 privately owned site with 12 pitches 1 privately owned site with 2 pitches 1 privately owned site with 35 pitches 1 privately owned site with 5 pitches 1 privately owned site with 3 pitches 1 privately owned site with 10 pitches |
| Ipswich | 1 private site with 1 pitch 1 privately owned site with 45 pitches |
| Mid Suffolk |
1 privately owned site with 3 pitches |
| St Edmundsbury | 1 TSP privately owned site with 1 pitch 1 TSP privately owned site with 1 pitch 1 privately owned site with 3 pitches 1 privately owned site with 1 pitch 1 privately owned site with 1 pitch 1 privately owned site with 1 pitch 1 privately owned site with 5 pitches |
| Waveney | 1 Local Authority site managed by private agent with 24 pitches 2 privately owned sites both with 5 pitches each |
There are no authorised sites in the Suffolk Coastal district.
Unauthorised encampments
An unauthorised encampment is where any person camps on land they do not own. Suffolk has developed a protocol for managing unauthorised encampments (PDF, 547KB).
These are rules to:
- address the need for effective management of unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller encampments, whilst ensuring the rights of Gypsies, Travellers and the settled communities are met
- ensure the county, district, and borough councils are working together with all agencies to meet the needs of Gypsies, Travellers and the settled communities
To find out more read our Joint Equality Impact Assessment Report (PDF, 147KB)
If you are aware of an unauthorised encampment within your area which you would like to report, please complete the unauthorised encampment notification form (Word, 706KB).
Once you have completed the form, please send it to NSGRTS@norfolk.gov.uk.
Unauthorised developments
An unauthorised development is where a person has developed an area of land for residential use without planning permission.
Find out more
For more information read this leaflet (PDF, 688KB) on the role of community in life in the county.
This leaflet aims to provide information that will support increased understanding and learning between different communities.
Download more leaflets:
- Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Service FAQs (PDF, 68KB)
- Unauthorised encampments (doc, 70KB)