England’s unauthorised traveller caravans rise 73% in six years
Basildon records highest increase as councils struggle with enforcement and site shortages
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The number of unauthorised Gypsy and traveller caravans in England has risen sharply, with councils reporting enforcement challenges and a lack of approved sites. In January 2026, 4,950 unauthorised caravans were recorded, a 73% increase from 2,860 in January 2020, as reported by the BBC.
The summer count also showed a 44% rise in unauthorised caravans between July 2019 and July 2025, from 3,113 to 4,471. The total number of traveller caravans in England increased by 21% over the same period, reaching 28,659 in July 2025.
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Basildon sees largest increase
Basildon, Essex, recorded the highest increase in unauthorised caravans, with a 164% rise between July 2019 and July 2025. The borough’s winter count showed a 14% increase compared to January 2020, despite a year-on-year fall between 2025 and 2026.
George Jeffery, a Conservative councillor in Basildon, told the BBC that a perceived lack of enforcement had made the borough a "soft touch". He highlighted a site on Newlands Road, Wickford, where unauthorised development has persisted for years despite enforcement notices.
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The site had permission for two caravans but now hosts more than a dozen. A planning inspector ruled in 2023 that five caravans could remain, giving 16 months for the rest to be removed. That deadline passed in July 2025, but the infrastructure remains. Basildon Council is now considering a court injunction to enforce compliance.
Shortage of approved sites
Cliff Codona, chair of the National Travellers’ Action Group, told the BBC that the planning system leaves travellers with little choice but to break the law. He said applications from Gypsies and travellers are often rejected outright, forcing families to occupy land without permission.
We pulled down on a Friday evening when we knew the council was all closed up and we just took it for granted that this is how things get done.
Cliff Codona, chair of the National Travellers’ Action Group
Codona described being evicted 50 times as "horrific" and said travellers often acquire land covertly to avoid discrimination. He attributed the rise in caravans to a growing Gypsy and traveller population, which increased by 21% between July 2019 and July 2025.
Basildon Council’s local plan, which guides development, has not been updated since 1999. A February 2026 report found a "shortfall" in approved Gypsy and traveller sites, with only 31 pitches approved between April 2023 and February 2026. The borough is projected to need 302 pitches by 2042.
Government response
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said unauthorised development was "totally unacceptable" and that councils have "strong powers" to tackle it. The government is reviewing national planning policy to strengthen rules on intentional unauthorised development, particularly for retrospective applications.
Matthew Green, a planning consultant who represented a resident at the Newlands Road inquiry, told the BBC that councils could seek injunctions to remove unauthorised caravans. However, he said the underlying issue was a lack of approved sites, which councils are legally required to provide.
What happens next
Basildon Council is considering legal action to enforce compliance at the Newlands Road site. The government’s review of planning policy could lead to stricter rules on unauthorised development, but the shortage of approved sites remains unresolved. Councils across England face similar challenges as the number of unauthorised caravans continues to rise.
Questions this report answers
+How many unauthorised traveller caravans are there in England?
In January 2026, there were 4,950 unauthorised traveller caravans in England, a 73% increase since January 2020. The summer count in July 2025 recorded 4,471 unauthorised caravans, up 44% from 2019, as reported by the BBC.
+Which area has the highest increase in unauthorised caravans?
Basildon, Essex, has the highest increase, with unauthorised caravans rising 164% between July 2019 and July 2025. The borough’s winter count showed a 14% increase compared to January 2020, despite a slight year-on-year fall.
+Why are unauthorised traveller sites increasing?
Travellers say they are forced to occupy land without permission due to a shortage of approved sites and frequent rejections of planning applications. Councils report enforcement challenges, with Basildon’s local plan last updated in 1999, as the BBC reported.
+What is the government doing about unauthorised development?
The government says unauthorised development is "totally unacceptable" and is reviewing national planning policy to strengthen rules, particularly for retrospective applications. Councils have existing enforcement powers, but their use varies, as stated by the Ministry of Housing.
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