A purpose built new site for Gypsies and Travellers is to be built in Bury.
Permission has been granted to Bury Council to demolish the existing 30-year-old Fernhill caravan site in Every Street which currently contains 17 pitches and other associated buildings.
In its place 12 permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches will be created including new amenity buildings and a management block.
READ MORE: Motorway fully shut due to overturned lorry amid Storm Franklin chaos - latest updates
Bury Council, who were the applicants for planning permission, have published computer generated images of how the small, new community of pitches is set to look.
A design and access statement in support of the plans, said: “The existing site was developed in 1992 and is set out with 17 pitches.
“However, the pitches do not meet current design standards, they are constrained and cramped and do not allow sufficient spacing between tourers or caravans as required for safety.
“Several of the less desirable pitches are vacant, while other pitches have been lived on for many years, sometimes for decades, by the same families.
“Many residents have lived at Fernhill the entire length of time the site has been operational, with most of the current families intending to return to the new pitches provided on the redeveloped site when complete.”
Each of the new pitches will contain a newly built larger amenity block and hard standing parking for a maximum of two vehicles such as tourers or caravans, and there is potential space for a small sized static.
Within the amenity block there is a combined kitchen and dining space and a living area as well as an accessible bathroom.
Each pitch also provides space for two cars.
The proposed layout of the site has taken into consideration the guidance provided by the Gypsy and Traveller Site Good Practice Guide.
Concluding the report, Bury Council, said: “The redeveloped of the existing Gypsy and Traveller site will create a much-improved residential site for the occupiers.
“Primarily the site will meet current requirements relating to the health and safety of Gypsy and Traveller site design in terms of access and positioning of the vehicles.”
The site, which is one kilometre north of Bury town centre, will have a realigned site access off Every Street, close to the current junction.
