The number of unauthorized Gypsy and traveller sites has increased by 73% since April, with a total of 4,950 such sites across England as of January. The summer count also shows a rise, of 44%, between July 2019 and July 2025, from 3,113 to 4,471. Cliff Codona, who chairs the National Travellers' Action Group, claims that the planning system is biased against travellers, leaving them no choice but to "break the law" to obtain land. According to government data, there are now 28,659 traveller caravans in England, a 21% increase from July 2019.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
- Published
The number of unauthorised Gypsy and traveller sites is on the rise, with developments often carried out over Bank Holiday weekends.
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developments → publish → weekends
Since April, sites in Hertfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and elsewhere have been transformed, prompting legal battles and local dismay.
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sites → transform → battles
In January, the number of unauthorised traveller caravans – those without planning permission – across England stood at 4,950, a 73% increase on January 2020's figure of 2,860.
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number → plan → 2,860
The summer count also shows a rise, of 44% between July 2019 and July 2025, from 3,113 to 4,471.
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count → show → 4,471
A senior councillor in one affected area warns there has been a "loss of control" of the planning system, while villagers living near one site likened its rapid construction to a "military operation".
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villagers → warn → operation
The government says unauthorised development is "totally unacceptable" and that councils have "strong powers" to tackle it.
But Cliff Codona, who founded and chairs the National Travellers' Action Group, says the planning system is like a "big dagger in their back" for travellers, leaving them no option but to "break the law".
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system → say → law
So what do travellers say is driving some to act unlawfully, and what do others think?
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others → say → what
When Codona moved on to what has become his family's caravan site, just outside Elm, near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, in 2020, he did not have planning permission.
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he → move → permission
"We pulled down on a Friday evening when we knew the council was all closed up and we just took it for granted that this is how things get done," he recalls.
"
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he → pull → it
As soon as they know you're a Gypsy," he says, a planning application is "stopped – dead in its tracks".
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application → know → tracks
After starting work at their site, Codona and family made a "part-retrospective" planning application that was later approved by a planning committee, despite the parish council saying it was an "unsustainable location".
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it → start → committee
He says they have worked hard to be good neighbours, but admits "to put a Gypsy site here is very naughty".
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put → say → site
Codona claims to have been evicted 50 times in his life, which he says was "horrific" and like going through "hell and back".
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he → claim → hell
"We've broke the law – I'll admit to you here today I've done everything... to live on land and get permission to be there," he says.
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he → break → permission
Codona, who has Gypsy and travelling showman heritage, recalls that travellers would acquire land in "covert" ways.
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travellers → have → ways
"We would have to put a raincoat on, sunglasses or whatever, slide ourselves into an auction [and] wait for the property to come up for sale."
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property → have → sale
More recently, online auctions are "even better... fantastic" for travellers, he says.
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he → say → travellers
Codona, who has 14 grandchildren and a great-grandchild, says more caravans are the result of a growing Gypsy and traveller population .
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caravans → have → population
In July 2019, councils across England counted 23,636 traveller caravans.
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councils → count → caravans
By July 2025, there were 28,659 – a 21% increase.
But the number of caravans without planning permission rose much faster.
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number → be → permission
Last summer, officials in Basildon, Essex, counted more unauthorised caravans than anywhere else in England.
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officials → count → England
Between July 2019 and July 2025, the number of unauthorised caravans in Basildon rose 164%.
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number → rise → Basildon
Its winter count showed a year-on-year fall between 2025 and 2026, but up 14% compared to January 2020.
George Jeffery, a Conservative member of the local council's cabinet, fears a "lack of enforcement" means the authority has been seen as a "soft touch".
The borough has had to deal with the issue before.
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borough → show → issue
Eighty families were forcibly evicted from a site at Dale Farm in an operation that concluded almost 15 years ago.
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that → evict → operation
Jeffery does not rule out needing to call on "police resources to keep the peace" once again.
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Jeffery → rule → peace
"Basildon should be robust and tackle it head on and not be afraid to use the full extent of the powers available to it," he says.
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he → tackle → it
He does not want to highlight any particular community and says he is against all unauthorised building.
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he → want → building
He has highlighted a site at the end of Newlands Road, Wickford, that has flouted planning laws for years.
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that → highlight → years
It had permission for one static and one touring caravan but building work took place between around 2018 and 2022.
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work → have → 2018
Basildon Borough Council issued planning enforcement notices but was challenged at a public inquiry.
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Council → issue → inquiry
A planning inspector ruled five caravans could stay across two plots, giving 16 months for the remaining caravans, hardstanding and part of a road to go.
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caravans → rule → road
That deadline passed in July 2025, but more than a dozen caravans and infrastructure remain.
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caravans → pass → July
On 3 August, the council granted permission for two more mobile homes on one other plot.
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council → grant → plot
Land Registry records show the site has been divided up and sold to several owners.
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site → show → owners
One plot changed hands in June for a reported £100,000.
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plot → change → 100,000
Some people living near Newlands Road said they were now struggling to sell their homes.
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they → live → homes
Neighbours have complained about fires and for months there was a constant hum from electrical generators.
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Neighbours → complain → generators
Jeffery believes there is a "two-tier planning system", with rules applied unfairly.
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Jeffery → believe → rules
In November, he proposed a council motion, which was amended before being passed, asking officials to draw up proposals for a "full range of enforcement routes" for the site.
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which → propose → site
The council is considering applying for a court injunction to force the owners and occupants to comply with the enforcement notices.
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council → consider → notices
…and 15 more, not listed.
