A new French migrant detention centre, partially funded by the United Kingdom, is at risk of being halted due to a legal challenge, according to recent reports. The facility, originally agreed upon by the French government in 2023 under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's administration, is currently under construction and was anticipated to become operational by the end of this year.
Purpose and Capacity of the Detention Centre
The centre is designed to house migrants detained by French police before they attempt to cross the English Channel. It will have the capacity to hold up to 140 individuals. Under the terms of the agreement, migrants intercepted while attempting small boat crossings will be detained at the site until they can be repatriated to their home countries or transferred to another European Union member state.
Legal Challenge by Environmental Group
However, the completion of the project has been thrown into uncertainty by a legal challenge from an environmental organisation known as the Flemish-Artois Coastal Environmental Defense Assembly, or ADELFA. The group contested the decision to grant a construction permit for the detention centre in November of last year, arguing that it violated local planning regulations. Although the challenge was initially rejected, ADELFA has now lodged an appeal with Lille's Administrative Court.
Migrants can be detained at the facility for a maximum of 90 days. Currently, there are four UK-operated detention sites in France—located in Calais tourist, Coquelles freight, Coquelles tourist, and Dunkirk—where individuals are held for up to 24 hours. At these sites, migrants have their details recorded and fingerprints processed before being released, according to charity workers who provide support to those housed there.
Funding and Context
The additional detention centre is being financed through a portion of a £160 million fund that the UK is providing to France for new measures aimed at reducing the number of migrants making the journey across the Channel. Last month, the UK and France finalised a £662 million deal covering the next three years. Under this agreement, the UK will contribute approximately £501 million for increased police presence on the beaches of northern France and enhanced surveillance technology. This comes despite previous funding boosts failing to significantly reduce the number of Channel crossings.
Between 1 January and 25 May of this year, 8,565 people crossed the Channel via small boats from France, representing a 37 per cent decrease compared to the same period in 2025. The Home Office has been contacted for comment regarding the legal challenge and the future of the detention centre.
