Full Breakdown
Planning Inquiry Launched for Haslar Immigration Removal Centre Expansion
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Expansion Plans for Haslar Immigration Removal Centre
The Home Office has submitted a planning application to add 600 detention beds to the former Haslar Immigration Removal Centre in Hampshire, which closed in 2015. The proposal includes 130 initially planned beds plus an additional 470 in new buildings on adjoining seafront land owned by the Home Office. The Planning Inspectorate confirmed that a full public inquiry will begin on November 17 and is expected to run for two to three days.
Background and Local Concerns
Local authorities have voiced apprehension about the redevelopment. Gosport Borough Council and its leader Zoe Huggins urged the creation of a “community liaison panel” to ensure residents can access information and raise concerns. Tory MP Dame Caroline Dinenage described the expansion as “deeply disappointing” and called for rigorous scrutiny of the Home Office’s case. Council minutes from August record worries over democratic accountability and the impact on nearby communities.
Official Statements & Responses
- Planning Inspectorate spokesperson: emphasized that the inquiry is a standard part of Crown Development applications and encouraged stakeholders to participate in the formal process.
- Dame Caroline Dinenage: said the inquiry will allow the proposals to be “properly examined and tested” and highlighted the need for high-level scrutiny of the Home Office’s plans.
- Zoe Huggins: reiterated the call for a liaison panel, stressing that local voices must be central to decision-making.
- Home Office: expressed confidence in the strength of its application and noted that, since the election, the government has returned or deported over 80,000 individuals, including 11,733 foreign-national offenders, making the investment essential to sustain removals.
Data & Statistics
What’s Next
The inquiry on November 17 will feature an evening session for public comments, followed by additional hearings over the next two to three days. Stakeholders are urged to submit their views through the formal inquiry process.
Verbatim Quotes
- “All Crown Development planning applications require extensive engagement, and a public inquiry of this kind is a standard part of the process.” — Planning Inspectorate spokesperson
