Keith Prince Challenges City Hall Over Havering’s 73 Traveller Pitch Target
Havering Council leader Keith Prince has challenged City Hall over a draft target that would require the borough to plan for at least 73 additional permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches.
Cllr Keith Prince AM questioned Deputy Mayor for Housing and Residential Development Tom Copley during the London Assembly Plenary on Thursday 10 September.
Policy HN4 of the Draft London Plan proposes a minimum of 73 net additional permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches in Havering between 2027/28 and 2036/37. That would be the second-highest proposed borough target in London, behind Bromley, which has a proposed target of 77.
The draft plan also proposes five additional plots for Travelling Showpeople in Havering.
It says boroughs should consider extra capacity within or next to existing sites, look at whether suitable temporary sites could become permanent and make provision for Traveller accommodation within large residential and mixed-use developments where appropriate. Local planning authorities would also be expected to allocate a transit site and/or make provision for negotiated stopping.
Cllr Prince, Reform UK London Assembly Member for Havering and Redbridge, said: “Havering is being handed one of the highest Traveller pitch targets anywhere in London, and residents are entitled to ask why.
“There must be proper consideration of existing provision, genuine local need, suitable locations and the impact on surrounding communities.”
City Hall says the targets are intended to address identified need and historic under-delivery of Traveller accommodation across London. The Draft London Plan also acknowledges a degree of uncertainty around some of the Census data used.
The London Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment calculated a requirement for 73 pitches in Havering when its London-wide methodology was combined with existing borough evidence. The same assessment records a figure of 58 pitches when relying solely on existing borough evidence.
The proposals have not been adopted. The Draft London Plan remains under consultation until 15 October 2026.
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