A move to house hundreds of asylum seekers at a military barracks in Inverness faces delays due to £1.3m refurbishment works at the site.
The Highland Council said it was notified Cameron Barracks would be used to house around 300 asylum seekers on a phased basis from December for up to a year.
The Home Office confirmed on Monday that the Inverness site was one of two barracks to be used to house around 900 men in total.
Along with Crowborough in East Sussex, the barracks were used to accommodate Afghan families evacuated during the withdrawal from Kabul in 2021 while they were resettled elsewhere, with that work ending earlier this year.
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It comes as the UK Government aims to end the use of hotels to house people awaiting decisions on their asylum claims.
However, contract documents seen by STV News show major refurbishment works worth £1.3m in total are not due to start until January 5.
Two contracts, put out for tender last week, show 12 buildings at the barracks will be overhauled, including asbestos removal from the basement boiler room.
The works will also involve boiler replacement and a full refurbishment of the accommodation blocks, which will undergo a deep clean.
STV NewsA £300,000 contract involves the removal of the existing heating plant and hazardous materials, while the second contract, worth £1m, covers a total redecoration.
The £1m contract is not due to be completed until April 1, 2026.
It is understood that the Home Office and MoD are considering military sites, which must comply with safety, security, health and well-being standards.
Other options being considered include industrial sites, temporary facilities and disused accommodation.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels.
“This government will close every asylum hotel. Work is well under way, with more suitable sites being brought forward to ease pressure on communities.
“We are working closely with local authorities, property partners and across government so that we can accelerate delivery.”
The Highland Council said the Government indicated the local authority will have “no direct role” in supporting the asylum seekers after their arrival.
The asylum seekers have also been described as “non-detained”, meaning they will be free to leave their site should they wish.
The Home Office also informed the council that asylum applications will not be processed in Inverness, which councillors say will “create more disruption”.
The council said it does not own the barracks nor is it owned by any of its local public sector partners.
Councillors have raised concerns over “community cohesion” given the scale of the plans on a “relatively small community”.
A joint statement from council convener Bill Lobban, leader Raymond Bremner, and opposition leader Alasdair Christie said: “We await more details on how Inverness was selected over other available locations and how community cohesion will be maintained given the large number of asylum seekers planned relative to the local population.”
The councillors said they had “repeatedly” sought written confirmation from the Home Office on the plans.
“The UK Government have informed us that their accommodation will be self-contained, with all necessary services provided on site,” they said.
“Their intention is to use the barracks for short-term accommodation before people are moved to dispersed housing around the UK to await the outcome of their asylum applications.
“Our main concern is the impact this proposal will have on community cohesion given the scale of the proposals as they currently stand.
“Inverness is a relatively small community but the potential impact locally and across the wider Highlands appears not to have been taken into consideration by the UK Government.”
A special meeting of the council will be held on Thursday, November 6, to discuss the plans.
As of June this year, around 32,000 asylum seekers were being housed in hotels, down from a peak of more than 56,000 in 2023 but 2,500 more than at the same point last year.
And expected costs of Home Office accommodation contracts for 2019-2029 have tripled from £4.5bn to £15.3bn, following what the Commons Home Affairs Committee called a “dramatic increase” in demand.
On Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “frustrated and angry” as he sought to blame the previous government for leaving a “huge mess” in the asylum system by failing to process people’s claims.
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