Gypsy and Traveller caravan count: January 2021

On 31 January 2021 there were 1,065 Gypsy and Traveller caravans and 139 sites reported in Wales.

Between January 2020 and January 2021, the total number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans has decreased by 2.5% (27 caravans). The total number of sites (both authorised and unauthorised) has increased by 2.2% (3 sites).

At the time of the January 2021 count, the total number of Gypsy and Traveller caravans in Wales was 1,065. There were 912 caravans on authorised sites with planning permission, accounting for 86% of all caravans. Of these, 608 (67%) were on socially rented sites and 304 (33%) were on privately-funded sites.

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There were 83 caravans on unauthorised sites on land owned by Gypsies and Travellers, accounting for 8% of all caravans. A further 70 caravans (7% of all caravans) were on unauthorised sites on land not owned by Gypsies and Travellers.

Cardiff, Pembrokeshire, Flintshire and Neath Port Talbot had the highest total numbers of caravans; combined these accounted for 54% of all caravans. Newport had the highest number of caravans on unauthorised sites (49 caravans, accounting for roughly a third of all caravans on unauthorised sites).

In some cases, caravans are on sites which are unauthorised but the local authority has decided not to seek removal of the encampment. In January 2021 there were 77 caravans on tolerated unauthorised sites. The largest number of these were seen in Vale of Glamorgan where there were 30 caravans on tolerated unauthorised sites. There were 76 caravans on unauthorised sites that were not tolerated.

Detailed local authority level tables are provided in the accompanying tables. Further background, quality information and glossary can be found in the quality report.

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Notes

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Welsh Government’s biannual caravan census count was not conducted in Wales in July 2020.

For January 2021, the All Wales caravan count online data has been used to produce counts of Gypsy and Traveller caravans in Wales. As such, some caution is advised when considering trends across time. Please see the quality report for more information.

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Notes

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Welsh Government’s biannual caravan census count was not conducted in Wales in July 2020.

For January 2021, the All Wales caravan count online data has been used to produce counts of Gypsy and Traveller caravans in Wales. As such, some caution is advised when considering trends across time. Please see the quality report for more information.

There were 435 pitches on Gypsy and Traveller sites provided by local authorities in Wales on 31 January 2021. Of these, 433 were residential pitches and 2 were transit pitches.

Pembrokeshire, Cardiff and Neath Port Talbot had the highest number of pitches provided by local authorities (98, 80 and 62 pitches respectively) accounting for over half of the total number of pitches (55%). There were 8 local authorities that reported having no pitches on 31 January 2021. At the time of the count, 96% of the residential pitches were occupied.

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Notes

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Welsh Government’s biannual caravan census count was not conducted in Wales in July 2020.

For January 2021, the All Wales caravan count online data has been used to produce counts of Gypsy and Traveller caravans in Wales. As such, some caution is advised when considering trends across time. Please see the quality report for more information.

Detailed information on data quality and methodology can be found in the quality report.

Statistician: Scott Clifford
Telephone: 0300 025 3234
Email: stats.inclusion@gov.wales

Media: 0300 025 8099

SFR 193/2021