Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has introduced new rules banning asylum seekers from being housed near schools, nurseries, or in new-build homes, aiming to reduce social tensions and cut costs.
New restrictions on asylum accommodation
The new criteria for the Home Office and its contractors also prohibit placing migrants in properties that could be perceived as luxurious. A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that "robust processes" have been implemented to ensure new-build sites like Stoke Heath in Shropshire can "never be considered again."
At Stoke Heath, up to 83 migrants were set to be moved into a new development of 21 homes acquired by outsourcing company Serco. The plans faced fierce opposition from villagers who argued the houses should be for local residents. The decision reportedly predates the new rules.
Government strategy shift
A source told the Express that the new rules, clarified earlier this year, include new-builds and sites near sensitive locations such as schools or nurseries. The Home Office is developing a "long-term, sustainable strategy" for asylum accommodation, exploring alternative options like disused properties and ex-military sites to reduce community impact.
The Labour Government has pledged to stop using asylum hotels by the next election, moving instead to community housing and former military barracks, such as Crowborough in East Sussex.
Cost-cutting measures
Earlier this week, the Home Office announced that asylum seekers will be required to pay up to £10,000 towards their accommodation and support once they start earning. The Government spent £4 billion on accommodation and support for asylum seekers last year, with average costs of £23.25 per person per night in dispersal accommodation and £144 in hotels. Subsistence payments range from £9.95 to £49.18 per person per week while claims are processed. Mahmood described the costs as "too high."
The £10,000 payment demand is part of the Immigration and Asylum Bill, which includes several policies aimed at tackling the migrant crisis.
