Labour is set to end the use of large military sites to house asylum seekers, instead opting to 'scatter' migrants across the country in dispersed accommodation, according to reports. The move marks a shift from the previous Conservative government's policy, which utilised sites such as RAF Wethersfield and RAF Scampton to house hundreds of asylum seekers each.
The new approach aims to 'massively increase' the procurement of dispersed accommodation, including empty homes and former student blocks with self-catering facilities. This comes amid concerns that large-scale sites place undue pressure on local services. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has already announced the scrapping of the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland, Dorset, as migrant accommodation.
RAF Wethersfield in Essex, which began accommodating asylum seekers in July last year, was set to house up to 800 people. However, a court recently heard of scabies outbreaks at the 'prison-like' facility, with four ex-residents taking legal action against the Home Office. RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire was also earmarked for up to 800 asylum seekers, but plans have been left in limbo.
Prior to the general election, Sir Keir Starmer vowed to act 'straight away' to begin closing such sites. The National Audit Office earlier this year found that the Tories' large-site plans would actually cost more than using hotels. Councils have now been asked to agree to asylum accommodation plans that set targets for increasing dispersed housing.
A source told The Times: 'It's all about having a more equitable dispersal of asylum seekers. Otherwise you have these areas that have concentrated numbers... That creates a whole host of challenges.' Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council called for an urgent government review to move to a new arrangement of local authority-led partnerships for asylum accommodation.
