Birmingham City Council has confirmed it has axed a pilot scheme to tackle unauthorised encampments despite a 'significant increase' last year. Such encampments in Birmingham's parks and green spaces often lead to clean-up costs for taxpayers and disruption for residents. It remains a pressing issue, with caravans recently spotted in Sutton Coldfield and Bartley Green.
Negotiated Stopping Pilot Scrapped
The council was exploring a 'negotiated stopping' programme, which would have allowed the travelling community to use unused pieces of land for short-term stays. This was due to issues with the city's small number of permanent transit sites, such as the one at Proctor Street, which has suffered repeated damage and vandalism. However, the pilot has been hit with delays before, sparking frustration from councillors over 'glacial progress'. Independent councillor Sam Forsyth said last year: 'The reality seems to be we don’t have enough legal sites in this city so we are scrabbling around trying to find other pieces of land where we can put the GRT community. That has been a festering sore in this city for years and years – it is time now that we dealt with this problem. We have a disadvantaged community on one hand not being served because the sites aren’t there and we have residents who are constantly being let down.'
Significant Increase in Encampments
Despite months of work on the plans, the council confirmed this month that the pilot is not going ahead because it 'has not been possible to identify enough suitable sites'. This is despite a recent council report revealing a dramatic rise in unauthorised encampments. In 2025/2026, officers dealt with 132 encampments on council land comprising 2,280 caravans – a 43% increase in encampments and 75% increase in caravans compared to the previous year (92 encampments and 1,308 caravans). The report stated this was 'the busiest year on recent record'.
Council Justification
A council spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'Throughout 2025/26, council officers were involved in the process for identifying and reviewing the suitability of sites within council ownership for a “negotiated stopping” pilot programme for travellers within Birmingham. However, after a thorough search, it has not been possible to identify enough suitable sites that meet the requirements for a negotiated stopping programme. This includes geographical spread across the city, suitable size of site(s), accessibility and impact on neighbouring amenities. As a result, it has not been possible to progress with consultation on any proposed sites or the pilot programme for negotiated stopping.'
Future Plans
The council is currently reviewing its Local Development Plan for Birmingham, which includes a policy to 'consider future planning applications for both transit and permanent sites to meet the needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople'. The West Midlands Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) will look at wider needs for plots and pitches across the region, with an initial consultation expected in late 2026. The council also said its Gypsy and Traveller service is now led by a dedicated team focused on improving engagement and building trust, working with partners including West Midlands Police, education services, housing providers and charities. The transit site on Proctor Street has been reopened to provide a 'safe and managed space for those travelling through the city'. Paul Langford, executive director of City Housing, said: 'We’re working closely with communities and partners to better understand needs, challenge misconceptions and build a service we can be proud of. Building trust is key. We’re starting to see positive changes, with partners working more closely together and residents feeling more confident in sharing their experiences with us.' The joint protocol on Managing Unauthorised Encampments between the council and West Midlands Police is under review, with a revised version expected in the new financial year.
