"Unacceptable harm" as MP objects to plans to expand the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre

Serious concerns have been raised about the second phase of plans to bring Haslar Immigration Removal Centre, with the town’s MP saying there are many unanswered questions about the project.

Dame Caroline Dinenage’s nine-page objection raises serious concerns about the proposed expansion at the site in Dolphin Way, Gospor. This includes the height of the new buildings, the loss of a major housing opportunity, the impact on nearby regeneration projects and uncertainty over the site’s possible future use.

The MP had previously opposed the Government’s decision to use the Crown Development process for the application meaning decisions will be taken by the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State, rather than through the usual local planning process by locally elected councillors.

Dame Caroline has previously argued that a development of this scale and significance should be considered through the normal local planning system, giving residents and their elected representatives the best possible opportunity to scrutinise the proposals and influence the decision.

She said: “Having carefully examined the several hundred pages of documentation submitted by the Home Office, I have now formally objected to these plans.

“This is a substantial intensification of the site which would see it accommodate up to 600 people, including three-storey accommodation blocks reaching as high as 12 metres.

“The Home Office has not demonstrated that development on this scale can be accommodated without unacceptable harm, both in terms of its visual impact and the effect it could have on nearby regeneration projects which are essential to Gosport’s future economy.

“There are also unanswered questions about how people who may ultimately be released from the centre on immigration bail will be managed, particularly as immigration bail is now the most common reason for people leaving detention.

“The Home Office must also be upfront about its long-term intentions for the site. Some of the plans appear to have been prepared using guidance associated with a Category C prison, on the basis that the site’s operational use could change in the future, yet the potential impact of such a change has not been assessed as part of this application.”

As previously reported by The News, works are ongoing to refurbish the removal centre to bring it up to standard in the first of two phases for the site in Dolphin Way, Gosport which closed in 2015 following a damning report about its condition.

This will see 130 beds created in the refurbished accommodation, with a second phase to follow creating an additional 600 beds in the future to allow higher levels of enforcement and returns for those who have had their claim for asylum rejected.

In her objection to the second phase plans, thr Gosport MP argues that the four proposed accommodation blocks would be substantially taller than the historic barracks and many of the surrounding homes, causing harm to the character and historic setting of the Haslar Peninsula.

She also highlights that the site was previously promoted by the Ministry of Justice for approximately 225 homes, including a substantial proportion of affordable housing after the previous immigration centre is closed in 2015 following a damning report about its condition.

The MP argues that the permanent loss of this housing opportunity should be given significant weight, particularly as Gosport cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing supply.

She also said that the Home Office has not clearly explained how people released on immigration bail would be transported from the site, whether they would be required to leave the area, what impact releases could have on local services, or what arrangements would apply where suitable accommodation was not immediately available.

Gosport Borough Council has also expressed concerns about the scheme, with many local councillors unhappy that much of the information which has been shared as part of the consultation has been redacted by the Home Office.

Residents can view the application documents and submit their own comments through the Planning Inspectorate’s Crown Development website. The deadline for representations is 11.59pm on Thursday, August 6 2026.