Gosport Borough Council tells government of its concerns over Haslar Immigration Removal Centre expansion
The council has sent a letter to the Home Secretary asking for an inquiry to be opened
Gosport Borough Council have submitted a letter to the government stating its “serious concern” about expansion plans for Haslar Immigration Removal Centre, which would increase the number of beds at the centre to 600.
The expansion of the Gosport centre was originally proposed by the Conservative government in 2022.
The letter, signed by leader of the Gosport Borough Council, Cllr Zoe Huggins BEM, questions the process of the submission of the plans, which were directed to the Planning Inspectorate, rather than to the council, on the grounds of national importance.
“The council recognises the government's responsibility for immigration policy and the need to provide appropriate immigration removal capacity,” said Cllr Huggins. “However, members are firmly of the view that this should not come at the expense of local democratic accountability, transparency and public confidence.”
The letter reports council concerns about a “lack of transparency” surrounding the plans.
“Although documents have now been published after months of delay, many have been heavily redacted,” said Cllr Huggins.
The Haslar site opened as an Immigration Removal Centre in 2002 and operated until its closure in 2015. The building stood empty until then-Home Secretary and MP for Fareham and Waterlooville, Suella Braverman, announced plans to re-open the centre in 2022.
An application to refurbish the centre and reopen with 130 beds was approved and the centre is due to reopen in 202. However, a second phase of construction remains in the consultation phase of the planning application process.
If approved, the expansion would allow for an additional 470 beds, as well as the construction of a three-storey building on the grounds of the centre.
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Hundreds of objections were submitted to the plans via the Planning Inspectorate’s website, and local MP for Gosport, Dame Caroline Dinenage, labelled the proposal as “deeply disappointing.”
Residents of Gosport have also expressed worries about how the expansion works on the centre would affect the area, raising issues such as noise, traffic, dust and disruption.
Cllr Huggins said: “The Council are also deeply concerned about the impact that the proposed expansion is having, and may continue to have, on local residents and the wider community.
“Throughout the consideration of these proposals, residents have consistently expressed concerns about the effect of the development on their quality of life, sense of security, wellbeing and confidence in the future of their neighbourhood.
“These concerns should not be dismissed simply because they do not all fall within the narrow definition of material planning considerations. They are an important reflection of the strength of local feeling and the level of concern within the community.”
Gosport Borough Council are calling on the government to open an inquiry into the application, and the establishment of a Community Liaison Panel to “help ensure that residents have a meaningful opportunity to raise concerns, receive information and understand how issues associated with the development are being addressed.”