A new traveller site with five pitches has officially opened in Leicestershire.

At a total cost of just under £562,000, the scheme benefited from Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) funding of £440,000, with the remainder coming from Framework.

The site's isolated location presented additional challenges to delivery with the re-routing of a water supply from 800 metres away and amendments to the road layout at the site entrance to comply with planning conditions.

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This was Framework’s first gypsy and traveller site, and they took advice from a wide range of agencies. In terms of the design, the advice and guidance provided by Rooftop Housing, who are leaders in the delivery of traveller accommodation in the Midlands, was invaluable. A timber-frame solution for the amenity buildings was developed, clad primarily in brick, with some fibre cement boarding at higher levels. Each pitch comprises the amenity building, together with garden space, a shed, parking for two vehicles, and space for a mobile home plus one touring caravan, or two touring caravans.

Framework designed the scheme in consultation with the family themselves, with valuable input from the Leicester and Leicestershire Multi-Agency Traveller Unit (MATU). Advice and guidance was also provided by the local authority's site licencing officer.

(CD/JP)