We have been made aware of the Home Office’s plans to begin moving people into an apartment block in Farnborough as temporary accommodation for those seeking asylum in the UK. Here is a statement from the council setting out its position to this news.
The council has been informed by the Home Office that it intends to go-ahead with plans to use an apartment block in Farnborough as temporary accommodation for people seeking asylum in the UK.
The Home Office previously “paused” its proposals to use 113 privately owned flats in Farnborough as temporary asylum accommodation, but the decision was taken in May 2024 by the previous Home Secretary to press ahead with its plans.
The council continues to express concerns about who would be housed in the apartment block and the potential demands this could have on local services; the track record of the Home Office contractors who would be running the site; and how community tensions would be managed.
The council understands that the Home Office initially intends to move asylum seeking families, currently living in a local hotel, to the Farnborough site, and is seeking reassurances that the hotel would cease to be used for further asylum accommodation.
The Leader of Rushmoor Borough Council Councillor Gareth Williams said: “We are a welcoming borough, but we believe this is the wrong place to provide asylum accommodation. We have consistently made this point to the Home Office with the strongest objections.
"This is a project led by the Home Office and the council has had no role in the selection of this site. However, we will work to keep all residents informed and will continue to provide regular updates.
"We will continue to make representations to the new Home Secretary to find an appropriate solution to this issue, which was enacted by her predecessor before the General Election."
Residents who have queries can contact the Home Office by email at public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk or phone to 020 7035 4848.
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