MP criticises plans to exclude residents from Haslar Immigration Centre expansion decisions

An MP has blasted plans to expand an immigration detention centre in a letter to the home office, where she expressed ‘serious concerns’ residents will be removed from the decision-making process.

Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage has criticised proposals for three-storey buildings as part of the site’s second phase of development, saying they were not featured in the initial proposals.

The MP also objected to the government’s “intention to proceed with the Crown Development route”, arguing it would remove local residents from the decision-making process.

The Crown Development route requires the planning inspectorate to give no less than 21 days for the submission of representations by planning consultees, including the local planning authority. After the close of that submission window the application is decided by an inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.

Caroline has called for the application to be considered by Gosport Borough Council as the local planning authority.

She said: “It takes decision-making away from local people and into the hands of civil servants and Labour politicians in Whitehall. I have serious concerns that the Government are trying to push this application through with minimal scrutiny, which isn’t acceptable.

“When I first saw the plans for Phase 2 at the public meeting I organised in October, I made it clear that the new build accommodation was too high. We’re now approaching crunch time for this application, and nothing has changed. There needs to be more engagement over these plans before decision making drifts out of reach of local people.”

Once complete, the Haslar centre will house a mixture of time-served Foreign National Offenders and immigration offenders awaiting removal from the UK. People detained in Haslar IRC will not be free to leave the centre or access the local area.

Redevelopment at Haslar has taken a phased approach, with Phase 1 consisting of the refurbishment of existing buildings, and Phase 2 involving the building of new build accommodation.

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Phase 1 will provide 130 beds, and is expected to be delivered by the Autumn 2026 with staff manning the front counter by next summer, and the first inmates are anticipated to move into the site in Spring 2027. The government’s intention is for the site to ultimately provide 600 beds.

In her letter to the Home Office, Caroline added: “Planning decision of this nature should be determined locally, by those with proper knowledge and understanding of the area, its infrastructure, and the impact this development would have on the surrounding community.

“Local councillors are best placed to consider these matters, having been elected by the very residents who will be affected.

“Your Department should therefore do the right thing and submit this application to Gosport Borough Council.”