CROWN/2026/0000005 Helen Backhouse
- Date submitted
- 2 August 2026
- Submitted by
- Interested party
I strongly object to the proposed expansion of Haslar Immigration Removal Centre. The application reference is CROWN/2026/0000005. I object because the proposal would expand Haslar into a 600-bed detention centre, adding up to 470 additional detention places before the refurbished 130-bed centre has even reopened or been tested in practice. I am especially concerned about flood risk and healthcare. The Coastal Modelling Report prepared for the application gives sea-level rise estimates from a 2017 base year to 2125 of 1.093m under the higher central allowance and 1.467m under the upper end allowance. There are also concerns about surface water flooding, including flooding on the route used to get in and out of the site. The Planning Inspectorate should not approve this application unless there is clear evidence that detained people, staff, visitors, emergency services and escort vehicles would be safe for the lifetime of the development, including in future climate conditions. I am also concerned about the scale of the healthcare as asylum seekers in detention already receive incredibly inhumane lack of health care. The Home Office has not clearly shown why 470 additional detention places are needed at Haslar specifically, or why existing capacity, alternatives to detention, or other estate options would not be sufficient. This is especially important because Haslar has not yet reopened, so there is no current operational evidence showing how the refurbished centre would work in practice. Immigration detention causes serious mental and often physical harm to people detained there, and the effects are felt by families, communities, legal and advice services, health services and local people. Expanding Haslar would have serious human and community consequences. For these reasons, I ask that the application is refused. If it is not refused at this stage, I ask that it is examined through a full public inquiry. Yours faithfully, Helen Backhouse 2/8/26