Tories vow to change law to stop unauthorised traveller sites

The Conservatives said they would change the law to end a "two-tier planning system", which they claim is to blame for a rise in unauthorised traveller caravans.

Essex MP James Cleverly, who is Shadow Housing Secretary, said communities were "being abandoned" by the current approach and "forced to tolerate lawbreaking on their doorsteps".

The government said recent changes to planning guidelines showed it was "cracking down on illegal traveller sites" and it was "completely misleading to suggest otherwise".

Cliff Codona, chair of the National Travellers' Action Group, said travellers felt pushed into "breaking the law" because the planning system was "like a big dagger in their back" .

He said not enough new sites for caravans were approved, and planning applications from Gypsies and travellers were stopped "dead in their tracks".

Friends, Families & Travellers – a charity supporting the Gypsy, Romany and traveller communities – said: "Instead of telling people where they can't go, it'd be more helpful to tell people where they can go."

BBC analysis of data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government found councils across England reported 73% more unauthorised traveller caravans in January 2026 compared to January 2020.

The summer count of caravans, carried out each July, saw a 44% rise between 2019 and 2025, from 3,113 to 4,471.