Caroline submits formal objection to Haslar IRC expansion plans
Dame Caroline Dinenage, Member of Parliament for Gosport, has submitted a detailed objection to the Home Office’s Phase 2 plans for Haslar Immigration Removal Centre.
Caroline’s nine-page objection raises serious concerns about the proposed expansion, including the height of the new buildings, the loss of a major housing opportunity, the impact on nearby regeneration projects and uncertainty over the site’s possible future use.
Caroline has previously opposed the Government’s decision to use the Crown Development process for the application. This exceptional procedure allows certain developments to be determined directly by the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State, rather than through the usual local planning process by locally elected councillors.
Caroline has previously argued that a development of this scale and significance should be considered through the normal local planning system, giving residents and their elected representatives the best possible opportunity to scrutinise the proposals and influence the decision.
Caroline said:
“Having carefully examined the several hundred pages of documentation submitted by the Home Office, I have now formally objected to these plans.
“This is a substantial intensification of the site which would see it accommodate up to 600 people, including three-storey accommodation blocks reaching as high as 12 metres.
“The Home Office has not demonstrated that development on this scale can be accommodated without unacceptable harm, both in terms of its visual impact and the effect it could have on nearby regeneration projects which are essential to Gosport’s future economy.
“There are also unanswered questions about how people who may ultimately be released from the centre on immigration bail will be managed, particularly as immigration bail is now the most common reason for people leaving detention.
“The Home Office must also be upfront about its long-term intentions for the site. Some of the plans appear to have been prepared using guidance associated with a Category C prison, on the basis that the site’s operational use could change in the future, yet the potential impact of such a change has not been assessed as part of this application.”
In her objection, Caroline argues that the four proposed accommodation blocks would be substantially taller than the historic barracks and many of the surrounding homes, causing harm to the character and historic setting of the Haslar Peninsula.
She also highlights that the site was previously promoted by the Ministry of Justice for approximately 225 homes, including a substantial proportion of affordable housing. Caroline argues that the permanent loss of this housing opportunity should be given significant weight, particularly as Gosport cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing supply.
Caroline also argues that the Home Office has not clearly explained how people released on immigration bail would be transported from the site, whether they would be required to leave the area, what impact releases could have on local services, or what arrangements would apply where suitable accommodation was not immediately available.
Residents can view the application documents and submit their own comments through the Planning Inspectorate’s Crown Development website. The deadline for representations is 11.59pm on Thursday 6 August 2026.
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