Rooftop supports Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities with new development Rosamund Close in Coventry
In celebration of Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller History Month (GRTHM), Rooftop Housing Group is proud to announce the development of a new 12-pitch site – Rosamund Close in Coventry. This initiative is part of Rooftop’s ongoing commitment to supporting Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GRT) communities by providing housing and comprehensive services that foster inclusive, thriving communities.
Rosamund Close on Siskin Drive is a significant collaboration with Coventry City Council. Thanks to funding support from Homes England and Coventry City Council, Rooftop has transformed a derelict traveller site into a new site with 12 pitches. Each pitch includes a parking area for two vehicles, a day room with a kitchen, bathroom and utility design, and a back garden with a shed. There’s also a shared play area for children. We expect to welcome GRT communities to the new site by the end of 2024.
Boris Worrall, Group Chief Executive of Rooftop, emphasises the importance of providing culturally appropriate homes for the GRT community.
"I am proud of the work Rooftop has been doing for the GRT community, which too often remains suffers disadvantage and discrimination.
As a housing provider, we have expertise in developing and managing sites for the GRT communities. We believe in creating home and communities where all people and families can thrive, regardless of their background or lifestyle."
Together with our partner, Worcestershire-based Speller Metcalfe, the main contractor undertaking the works, we are working to provide GRT communities with modern, safe, and welcoming facilities.
Mark Eaton, Living Director at Speller Metcalfe, said: “We have a long-standing history of successful developments in partnership with Rooftop, and we’re delighted to see this extending into a wealth of different residential developments. The Siskin Drive project will be a positive addition to Coventry, providing a purpose-fit site for the well-established Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community.”
Rooftop Housing Group has a strong history of supporting GRT communities through various impactful projects. Earlier this year, during a national measles outbreak, and working in partnership with a local GP, a mobile vaccination unit was arranged to provide health checks and measles vaccinations on-site at another Rooftop GRT site in Solihull. This initiative resulted in seven people receiving crucial measles vaccinations, demonstrating Rooftop's support in providing a safe living environment and well-being for the GRT communities.
Other projects include the refurbishment and extension of the caravan site at Houndsfield Lane in Wythall, and the development of an 11-pitch site at Gables Close in Solihull. Rooftop also manages seven additional pitches at Gables Close on behalf of Solihull Council, totalling 41 pitches across two sites.
Mr. Worrall established the National Policy Advisory Panel on Gypsy and Traveller Housing (NPAP) while Rooftop is an active member of the National Association of Gypsy Traveller Officers (NAGTO). Through these roles, Rooftop continues to shape policies that benefit GRT communities nationwide.
Let us celebrate the diverse and vibrant families within the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities and continue to support their right to secure inclusive homes.
