Housing City not the van-dwelling capital of UK, councillor insists

BRISTOL is not the UK’s vehicle dwelling capital, according to the city council.

- Angus MCINTYRE

The number of people living in vans has risen sharply in recent years, with estimates suggesting there are about 650 live-in vehicles in the city, compared to 150 just five years ago.

Despite the rise, Bristol City Council's housing boss Barry Parsons (Green, Easton) refuted the suggestion there were more people living in vans in Bristol than anywhere else in the country.

“There is no evidence that people are being attracted to Bristol to live in a vehicle,’ Cllr Parsons said. “The number of people living in vehicles has been increasing across the country, but one of the main differences is that Bristol has chosen to count the number of vehicle dwellers in the city to better understand the issue and what support can be offered. This gives the impression that Bristol has higher numbers than other cities.”

Clir Parsons’ comments appeared to contradict a report from the council itself just over a year ago, in March 2024, which declared, “Bristol has the highest number of Vehicle Dwellers of any authority in the UK, but not necessarily the highest proportionately”.