Who Bristol's vehicle dwellers are, where they live, how we support the community, and our Vehicle Dweller Policy.
What a vehicle dweller is
A vehicle dweller is someone who lives in a vehicle, on a temporary or permanent basis, as their primary or only residence.
This can include:
- people living in converted vans, caravans or motorhomes
- individuals experiencing homelessness who use vehicles as shelter
- travellers or nomadic communities
Vehicle dwellers are not the same as Ethnic Travellers (Gypsy Roma Travellers).
People live in vehicles for different reasons.
These include:
- a lack of affordable housing
- moving on from street homelessness
- moving around for work
Vehicle dwellers are a developing community. The number of vehicle dwellers in Bristol has grown significantly in recent years, bringing new challenges with it.
Where Bristol's vehicle dwellers live
Bristol has over 600 lived-in vehicles in the city.
These are on:
- council operated meanwhile sites
- the kerbside
- private sites
- squatted encampments
Meanwhile sites
A meanwhile site is an area of our land that is vacant and awaiting future development. Pitches on these sites are temporary and provide a safer alternative to living kerbside. These sites have limited facilities.
Site provisions include:
- fresh water
- chemical toilets and sewage waste disposal
- waste bins
Sites do not have electrical supply.
Vehicle dwellers must apply for a pitch on a meanwhile site and sign a site licence.
Pitch fees are charged on a weekly basis to cover the cost of facilities and site management.
Council tax will also be applied for pitches from 1 April 2026. People may qualify for a discount or exemption.
Pitches on meanwhile sites are limited, but we're looking to provide more.
Apply for a pitch on a meanwhile site
Our new approach to vehicle dwelling
We've developed a new pdf Vehicle Dweller Policy(1.21 MB) for Bristol which aims to balance offering help and advice to vehicle dwellers, as well as considering the needs of the local community. The policy:
- aims to reduce the number of people living in vehicles on the side of the road or on council owned land without permission by offering health and welfare advice, and help finding ways to move into fixed accommodation and meanwhile site pitches to those who qualify
- is based on inclusion, support, fair and consistent enforcement, and providing safer alternative places for vehicle dwellers to live
- aims to encourage vehicle dwellers towards housing pathways and designated sites, and support them to move on from living on the highway
There will be times when we'll need to immediately move people living in vehicles. However, in most cases, people will be given up to 3 months to work with us to find alternative options before we move people on.
What this means for vehicle dwellers
If you live kerbside in Bristol, we want to offer you support to move to more suitable accommodation. Living by the side of the road is not a safe option.
Our new support team will be working their way around the city, offering advice and support to people living in vehicles. They will take time to listen, understand any health or welfare needs, and work with individuals to create plans that make moving on from kerbside living easier and more achievable.
Support could include:
- getting access to health care
- advice on types of housing available to you
- help applying for benefits, or a meanwhile site pitch
If you do not engage with us and accept the offers of support available to you, we'll need to take action to move you from the kerbside.
Under new proposals, enforcement action to move people on will generally happen after 3 months, but we can take action sooner if a vehicle, or group of vehicles, is causing significant problems or impacting on local areas.
Support for vehicle dwellers
Health care
The vehicle dweller community often find it difficult to access health services, but anyone can register temporarily at a GP practice without having to provide an address.
Housing advice
We have help and advice with housing if vehicle dwellers have concerns about their situation.
Debt advice
Find information about the support we offer for money and debt problems.
Support organisations
Support for victims of racism, harassment and discrimination (SARI)
SARI provide free and confidential support to victims of racism, harassment and discrimination.
Contact hello@saricharity.org.uk.
GR8T+ Bristol
GR8T+ provide an independent voice for the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller community, plus anyone from an ethnic and cultural Traveller background. Run by Ethnic and Cultural Travellers, they represent the needs of the GR8T+ community in various forums and events.
Contact this group through SARI, hello@saricharity.org.uk.
Friends family travellers (FFT)
FFT support individuals and families with the issues that matter most to them, and work to transform systems and institutions to address the root causes of inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, and vehicle dwellers.
Contact FFT through their website.
Report an unauthorised encampment
Find out how to report an unauthorised encampment and what we'll do.
Contact us
Email us at vehicle.dwellers@bristol.gov.uk.