09:54, 26 Aug 2025<\/p>\n
![\"Van](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_BRI_PG_280325bristol_van-24.jpg\")
Van dwellers and caravans on sides of roads in Bristol(Image: PAUL GILLIS \/ Reach PLC)<\/p>\n
Bristol City Council is appealing for support from central government to help it tackle van-dwelling. Housing boss Cllr Barry Parsons said he had written to Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander with a list of five measures he believes will help solve the issue.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cNationally we are taking a leadership role around vehicle-dwelling and liaising closely with many other local authorities, which is why we are in a position to be able to make these asks and recommendations to government.<\/p>\n
“In the letter we outlined the issues we are facing in Bristol \u2013 which are being echoed across the country \u2013 as a result of the housing crisis. Between 2020 and 2023 average private sector rents in Bristol rose by over 23% and house prices are 8.6 times average earnings.<\/p>\n
“In Bristol there are over 22,000 households on out housing waiting list and over 1,700 people in temporary accommodation. And while we are developing new homes at pace and working with partners to reduce our use of temporary accommodation, with the right support from central government, we could do more.\u201d<\/p>\n
The council\u2019s five requests are for specialist funding to provide additional welfare support for van-dwellers; more money for social housing; extended powers to make it easier to remove vehicles from council land; a new legal requirement for caravans to have a registration of ownership; and giving local authorities power to influence the cost of private renting.<\/p>\n
An estimated 650 people are living in vehicles in Bristol. The issue has caused considerable concern on the Downs where nearby residents are raising funds to potentially launch legal action against the council.<\/p>\n
However, the council claims it is doing what it can, including removing a long-standing encampment on New Stadium Road in Eastville this summer. Cllr Parsons said: \u201cAll vehicles left without us needing to proceed to a formal eviction, and we have worked with Bristol Waste to remove the large amounts of rubbish and fly tipped materials. The existing yellow lines have been repainted and new planters installed to try to stop this, or any other, encampment returning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cllr Parsons\u2019 letter comes ahead of the launch of a consultation into the council\u2019s new approach to van-dwelling. The policy will be put to the public on September 11 and run for six weeks.<\/p>\n
As well appearing online, the council will be running a series of face-to-face sessions across the city to talk through the consultation and hear from as many people as possible.<\/p>\n
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