Home Office U-turn: Drops plan to house asylum seekers in town flats

(WATERLOOVILLE, HAMPSHIRE) The Home Office has abandoned plans to house 35 asylum seekers in town centre flats in Waterlooville as of 8 August 2025, following large protests, a mass petition, and direct pressure from local leaders. Officials confirmed the decision after weeks of tension and calls for consultation on the proposal to convert a former high-street clothes shop.

The reversal marks a rare U-turn on asylum accommodation this summer and raises questions about how the government will place people while cutting hotel use. It also shows how local campaigns can quickly reshape national plans.

What changed and why it matters

• The plan: A Home Office contractor, Clearsprings, proposed converting the empty store into self-contained flats for 35 people seeking asylum.
• The opposition: Former Home Secretary and local MP Suella Braverman led a petition with over 10,000 signatures. More than 2,000 residents protested in person. She called the plan “outrageous,” “reckless,” and “insulting to local people.”
• The result: On 9 August 2025, the Home Office confirmed it dropped the scheme. The 35 people will be placed elsewhere, likely in hotels or other sites.

Local leaders and residents argued the plan would strain GPs, schools, and policing. They said the site wasn’t suitable for vulnerable people, including families and those with trauma. Havant Borough Council pushed for consultation and awaited a final answer through late July; the decision landed in August, ending weeks of uncertainty for the high street.

What happens to the asylum seekers now

Officials say accommodation is offered on a “no choice basis” to those who would otherwise be destitute, unless there are serious health or security risks. With Waterlooville off the table, people will be moved to other available locations.

In practice, that often means:

• Hotels, or
• Large sites such as ex-military bases or other facilities.

Advocacy groups warn that long hotel stays can harm mental health and isolate families. They also point to uneven support across different councils and site types.

Wider policy picture

• Ongoing backlog: While smaller than its 2023 peak, the asylum backlog remains high. Thousands still wait for decisions, delaying work, school, and family plans.
• Heavy hotel use: By late 2024, about 47% of asylum seekers lived in hotels, with many placed in London and the South East. This departs from the older “dispersal” approach that aimed to share placements across the country.
• Shift away from hotels: The Home Office wants to reduce hotel spending by using non-detained sites like former military bases and vessels. But many local communities resist new placements, slowing or stopping proposed sites.
• Policy update: The asylum accommodation policy was reviewed and republished in June 2025 (Version 13) after a High Court order. It restates that most accommodation types are suitable for most people, except those with very serious health needs.

The tension between national cost-cutting and local concerns sits at the heart of current asylum policy and helps explain why some proposed sites face heavy local opposition.

Why this U-turn could ripple nationwide

Campaigners in other towns may now feel encouraged to challenge planned sites. That could make it harder for the Home Office to exit hotels and find steady, affordable housing.

Potential consequences:

1. Slower rollouts of alternative accommodation.
2. Higher costs if options become limited or contested.
3. More people remaining in hotels for longer periods.

If more councils and MPs follow Waterlooville’s path, the department may face increased political and practical obstacles.

Quotes and voices on the ground

• Suella Braverman called the plan “reckless” and said it would overload services already under pressure. Supporters say her push, plus the petition and protests, forced officials to listen.
• Advocacy groups, including Asylum Matters and HIAS+JCORE, argue for higher standards, shorter hotel stays, and more human-centered placements. They stress the harm of instability and the need for safe, decent homes.
• The government position remains that different types of accommodation can work for most asylum seekers, and that decisions consider health, safety, and cost.

Key procedures and recent changes

• Allocation: “No choice” placements apply unless there are serious medical or security concerns.
• Equality duty: The June 2025 policy update followed a court order to ensure the Public Sector Equality Duty is met. Officials must consider how decisions affect people with protected characteristics.
• Consultation: Councils can request talks, but the Home Office has final say. In Waterlooville, Havant Borough Council pressed for input while waiting for the decision.
• Move-on period pilot: A pilot extended the time new refugees have to leave asylum accommodation after receiving status, from 28 to 56 days, through June 2025. Advocates want this change made permanent to reduce homelessness.

Practical guidance

For residents:
– Ask for clear information on services, safety, and support plans if a proposal appears in your town.
– Engage your council and MP early.
– Provide written, respectful feedback—this tends to carry more weight than anger alone.

For asylum seekers:
– If you receive a placement you can’t accept due to serious health issues or risks, report this clearly to your housing provider and legal adviser.
– Keep copies of medical letters and other supporting documents.
– If granted refugee status, ask your support worker about the move-on timeline and local housing help.

For community groups:
– Offer simple, concrete support such as:
– bus passes,
– English classes,
– social events, and
– help registering with a GP.
These steps ease pressure on services and help people settle.

Official resources

You can read the Home Office’s asylum accommodation policy, updated June 2025, on GOV.UK. The document explains placement rules, support levels, and when exceptions apply. It’s a long read, but the headings help you find what you need. You’ll also find guidance relevant to councils and contractors. For policy details, see the official Home Office asylum accommodation policy on GOV.UK.

Local context and next steps

In Waterlooville, the immediate question—whether the flats plan goes ahead—is now settled. The longer-term issues remain: how to manage costs, free hotel rooms, and protect people’s wellbeing. Havant Borough Council says it will keep residents updated on any future proposals that affect the town centre. People who signed the petition want a say in any new plans that could change the high street or pressure local services.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, pressure around hotel use, ex-military sites, and large vessels has grown over the past year, with local campaigns often moving faster than government plans. This clash is likely to continue unless the backlog falls sharply and more suitable homes become available at a lower cost.

The bottom line

• The Home Office dropped the Waterlooville flats plan on 9 August 2025.
• Strong local opposition led by Suella Braverman and residents pushed the decision.
• The 35 asylum seekers will be housed elsewhere, likely in hotels or other sites.
• This U-turn may inspire similar campaigns, making placements harder nationwide.
• Policy updates stress suitability and equality duties, but local buy-in remains key.

If you live in an area facing a new site, ask for clear timelines, service plans, and support for both residents and newcomers. If you’re seeking asylum, keep records, ask questions, and use official guidance to understand your rights and options.