End to ‘several months of secrecy’ as new plans for Haslar Immigration Removal Centre are unveiled

Formal plans for the expansion of Haslar Immigration Removal Centre have now finally been unveiled ending ‘several months of secrecy’ from the Home Office.

The proposals will see the creation of of new three-story accommodation blocks and ancillary supporting accommodation, as well as the conversion and expansion of existing site’s infrastructure including internal roads and the demolition of existing structures.

They form ‘phase two’ of the development of the site off Dolphin Way in Gosport which is being brought back into use having closed in 2015 following a damning report about its condition. It follows an unexpected announcement in 2022 that it was to be revamped and brought back into use, with works on this first phase expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

Phase two will add another 470 additional secure bed spaces - taking its total capacity to 600 people who are being removed from the country after failed asylum applications or who have no legal right to be in the country.

Planning documents state: “This expansion is critical to strengthen detention capacity, enabling more enforced returns, including of Foreign National Offenders, and individuals with no lawful right to remain, thereby supporting public safety, border integrity and the resilience of the immigration system.

“The Statement of National Importance demonstrates how Haslar satisfies the national importance criteria by: Advancing national security interests, Supporting essential public services (border infrastructure), Responding to civil contingencies and Delivering benefits in the national public interest.

“The proposal aligns with ministerial priorities to increase detention and returns capacity, underpinning the Government's commitment to deliver swift, firm and fair removals. The statement draws on recent operational momentum and highlights the consequences of delay for national security and the Department's ability to enforce removals at scale.”

But Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage has pledged to object to the proposals which she said the Home Office was ploughing ahead with despite local concerns over the scale and height of the buildings.

She said: “After several months of secrecy, the details of the Home Office’s application for Haslar IRC have now been published on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

“It is deeply disappointing that the Government has ploughed ahead with proposals for three-storey buildings despite the concerns raised by me and so many local residents. I must be clear that three-storey buildings were not included in the engagement events held under the previous Government.

“These proposals have only emerged under the new Labour Government. I am also disappointed that many important details within the application remain redacted.”

“I will be responding formally to the application and making my opposition clear.”

The MP is also due to meet Home Office Minister Alex Norris to raise residents’ concerns directly and press the Government for greater transparency and meaningful local engagement.

She added: “It’s ludicrous that the Government will not allow significant engagement with Gosport people and their democratic representatives over the new plans for Haslar IRC. Those plans are measurably different now to those produced under the previous Government. There needs to be more opportunity for local people to have their say, especially as the new buildings are taller and will have more impact on the local community.”

As previously reported by The News, the Home Office has decided to submit the application via the Crown Development planning route, bypassing Gosport Borough Council as the local planning authority.

It said that this is a processed used for developments on Crown land ‘that are of national importance’, although phase one of the development was approved by Gosport Borough Council via the standard planning process.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "We make no apology for investing in facilities that enable us to deport foreign criminals and remove illegal migrants as quickly as possible, having already removed nearly 70,000 people with no right to be here.

“All Crown Development planning applications require extensive consultation, and we encourage residents and stakeholders to share their views through the formal process.”

The Home Office said that the proposed three-storey buildings were included in the plans at the public engagement event in October, with residents as well as police, key stakeholders such as the fire and health services invited to better understand the impact of the plans.

It said that ‘a clear statutory framework’ has been applied which makes it considered appropriate for the Secretary of State to determine an application directly, but said that Gosport Borough Council plays an important role in contributing local information and ensuring that local residents were represented.

The Home Office has declined to confirm timescales for the project or to confirm if the Haslar IRC will partially open after the completion of phase one, or will open after the completion of phase two.

To view the planning application, reference CROWN/2026/0000005, visit the Planning Inspectorate’s website at find-crown-development.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/applications/7fe2266a-f9a0-4e95-a294-54c363c7821d/application-information . The formal consultation period runs until August 6.

For the Home Office’s factsheet on the project visit its dedicated webpage here.