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New Government figures show parts of England have seen a surge in traveller numbers over the past two years. Kirkless Council in West Yorkshire reportedly recorded the largest rate of increase in the number of traveller caravans, soaring by 136% from nine in July 2023 to 47 in July 2025.

However, it was Buckinghamshire Council that saw the biggest rise in actual numbers, according to reports. A further 560 caravans - an increase of 60% - arrived in the local authority's area during the two-year period. This was followed by Maidstone in Kent where caravan numbers increased by around 37% to 1,237 from 901 during the same period.

North Northamptonshire saw the third highest rise in caravan numbers, up by 78% from 232 to 413, according to the Daily Mail which first reported on the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government figures.

The data includes temporary sites on council land, like parks, or farmers' fields, as well as authorised permanent sites.

A North Northamptonshire Council spokesperson told the Mail there was "no clear explanation" for the increase in caravan numbers, but pointed to a rise in unauthorised sites.

Buckinghamshire Council's Peter Strachan said the increase in the area was due to "the creation of additional permitted sites" and "natural population growth within families already living on established sites".

Other local authorities saw a fall in traveller caravans.

Somerset, for example, saw caravan numbers drop by 391 between July 2023 and July 2025.

The Government has been urged to get a grip on illegal traveller sites, with Labour accused of being a "soft touch".

Travellers say they have had to break planning rules and live on unauthorised sites due to a national shortage of publicly provided sites, the Mail reports.

Maidstone, Kirkless and Somerset councils were contacted for comment.