Gosport’s council has demanded a ‘genuine seat at the table’ for residents while the plan to expand Haslar Immigration Removal Centre progresses
Residents could get a new route to raise concerns over plans to expand a controversial immigration removal centre.
Gosport Borough Council said it wants neighbours living closest to Haslar Immigration Removal Centre to have “a genuine seat at the table” as the Home Office pursues plans for a major expansion of the site.
The call follows confirmation that the application will be examined through a full public inquiry, a development already welcomed by Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage.
But Conservative council leader Cllr Zoe Huggins said engagement with residents should not be limited to the formal planning hearing.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Huggins said: “Meaningful engagement cannot begin and end with the inquiry itself. That’s why we have called for a Community Liaison Panel to give residents a genuine seat at the table before, during and after the process.
“The communities closest to the IRC must have clear access to information, a direct route to raise concerns, and confidence that their voices will be heard. This is about building trust, improving transparency and ensuring local people remain at the heart of decision-making throughout the project’s development and operation.”
The council said it was still working through the newly announced inquiry process, timetable and formal requirements. It expects to prepare and submit evidence before taking part in the hearing and presenting its case to the planning inspector appointed to consider the application.
Residents may be able to engage in several ways, including attending information events, submitting questions or representations, providing evidence and observing public sessions. The exact arrangements have yet to be confirmed by the Planning Inspectorate.
However, the proposed liaison panel could create a more regular channel for concerns which fall outside the formal inquiry. Issues raised around the redevelopment have included construction activity, parking, traffic, litter, lorry movements and the effect on nearby homes.
The council said the cost of its involvement in the inquiry had not yet been determined and would depend on its scale. Possible costs could include staff time, legal advice, specialist consultants, consultation work and technical investigations.
Any significant spending would be considered through the council’s “normal financial and governance procedures.”
A Home Office spokesperson said the department would provide further details to residents, including a named point of contact, shortly.
They said: “All Crown Development planning applications require extensive engagement, and a public inquiry of this kind is a standard part of the process. We encourage residents and stakeholders to share their views through the formal process.”
The department said it remained confident in its planning application and its preparation for the next stage.
The Home Office plans would increase capacity at Haslar Immigration Removal Centre to around 600 places.
Gosport council says residents need ‘seat at the table’ over Haslar
