Bristol City Council has pledged to establish temporary sites for people living in vehicles within some of the city's wealthiest neighbourhoods, moving away from concentrating them in more deprived areas.
A Matter of Equity Across the City
The Green-led authority aims to provide 250 pitches on "meanwhile sites" by spring 2024. These are managed spaces on plots of land awaiting development. The council stated that, while sites have previously been earmarked in poorer parts of Bristol, it is only fair that richer neighbourhoods also contribute.
Barry Parsons, chair of the council's homes and housing delivery committee, emphasised the need for equity. He told the Guardian that the scale of need requires looking at sites in "affluent areas, in the leafier areas of the city." He added that no single community should bear a disproportionate burden.
Controversy and a Growing Community
The issue of vehicle dwellers became highly contentious after approximately 100 vans parked on the Downs, a wealthy open space near the Clifton Suspension Bridge, sparking fierce protests from some local residents. The council has begun legal proceedings to move dwellers from the Downs, with around a third having already left.
The number of van dwellers in Bristol is believed to have soared to about 600, up from just 70 in 2017. The council estimates only 30% choose the lifestyle, with the majority forced into it by soaring house prices and rents.
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 managed sites provide not just a pitch, but also fresh water, rubbish collection, toilet facilities, and access to outreach workers.
Among those moving to the Lockleaze site is Dan, a 34-year-old former British Army lorry driver. He lives with his cat, Moon, in a van he bought for £1,500 after an injury and being priced out of conventional housing. "It'll be great not to have to keep looking over your shoulders," he said, highlighting the security the sites offer. Dan stated he would prefer a house but sees van life as a viable alternative for those struggling with costs.
The council believes its programme of managed meanwhile sites is unique in England, offering a structured response to a complex urban housing challenge.
