Controversial plans to house asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks scrapped by Home Office

Controversial plans to house asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks in the Highlands have been scrapped by the Home Office.

The UK Government previously announced that the Scottish army base near Inverness would be used to house 300 adult male asylum seekers in an effort to end the use of hotels.

The move was due to begin in phases in December; however, this was delayed after major refurbishment works worth £1.3m were approved for January. It is not known if the works, including asbestos removal from the basement boiler room, were carried out.

STV News understands that Westminster has made a U-turn on the decision to house asylum seekers at the barracks.

According to Liberal Democratic MP Angus MacDonald, Cameron Barracks has been taken off the potential list of accommodations “forever”.

He said: “I am absolutely delighted.

“It was the wrong place to have it. It is 600 miles away from where these asylum seekers have their social group, where they can assimilate into society.

Plans to house 300 male asylum seekers have been scrapped STV News

“They wouldn’t be able to work if they were in Inverness. The building is surrounded by residential areas, it’s adjacent to the military families when the men are posted away and a mile from the city centre.

“So why is a migrant hotel in Colchester not appropriate, but a migrant ‘hotel’ in Inverness appropriate. We got the message across, and I think there will be a lot of relieved people.”

The UK Government has not written to Holyrood or the Highland Council to confirm the U-turn, STV News understands.

Cabinet Secretary for social justice Shirley Anne Somerville said: “The Scottish Government, together with partners including Highland Council and NHS Highland, repeatedly raised questions regarding the practical suitability of the site to provide adequate accommodation and support for this cohort of people seeking asylum, taking into account the anticipated pressure the proposal would create on local public services, particularly health services, and the impact on local community tensions.

“The UK Government failed to adequately answer these questions.

“The reported decision not to proceed is in the best interests of the local community and the people who would have been accommodated at the site.

“Scotland has a long history of welcoming people of all nationalities and faiths, including those seeking refuge and asylum from war and persecution.

“We will continue to cooperate fully with the UK Government on its plans to accommodate people seeking asylum, but going forward these plans must be practical and proportionate and – critically – be developed in meaningful collaboration with the Scottish Government, the relevant local authority and all relevant partners and stakeholders.”