Bristol City Council has announced a significant shift in policy, pledging to establish temporary sites for people living in vehicles within some of the city's most affluent neighbourhoods, rather than concentrating them in more deprived areas.
A Matter of Equity and Distribution
The Green-led authority is targeting the provision of 250 pitches on "meanwhile sites" by the spring of 2024. These sites are typically plots of land awaiting development, offering managed spaces where vehicle dwellers can stay for several months before moving on. Barry Parsons, chair of the council's homes and housing delivery committee, emphasised that this is a question of fairness.
"We think it is really important that no one community or no one area is more burdened with the impacts of this issue," Parsons stated. "We think it’s right that affluent areas should be just as open to welcoming sites." He added that the council is actively looking at locations in the leafier, wealthier parts of Bristol to ensure an equitable distribution.
Response to Downs Controversy and Rising Numbers
This policy change comes in the wake of intense local debate. Earlier in 2024, approximately 100 vehicles parked on the Downs, a wealthy green space near the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, sparking fierce protests from some residents. The council has initiated legal proceedings to clear the Downs, with around a third of dwellers having already moved on.
The number of people living in vans and other vehicles in Bristol has skyrocketed, from an estimated 70 in 2017 to about 600 today. The council estimates that only around 30% do so as a lifestyle choice, with the vast majority forced into vehicle dwelling by soaring house prices and rents in the city.
Life on a Meanwhile Site
The council recently launched a new meanwhile site in Lockleaze, an area north of the city centre with pockets of deprivation. These sites provide not just a legal pitch, but also essential services including fresh water, rubbish collection, toilet facilities, and access to outreach workers. The authority believes it is the only council in England operating such a comprehensive programme.
Among the first to move into the Lockleaze site is Dan, a 34-year-old former British army lorry driver, and his cat, Moon. "It’ll be great not to have to keep looking over your shoulders. You feel a bit more legitimate," he said. Dan, who left the army after an injury and bought a van for £1,500 when he couldn't afford a home, expressed a preference for conventional housing but acknowledged the reality for many. "The winters do get hard... It’s rough but I think people need to accept that living in trailers is a viable way of living for people who can’t afford to live in houses."
The council's strategy aims to make these sites attractive by ensuring they offer easy access to work, education, and community facilities. By spreading the provision across the city, including its wealthier quarters, Bristol hopes to address a growing urban challenge with a renewed focus on shared responsibility.
