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Date submitted

4 August 2026

Submitted by

Interested party

5 August 2026 CROWN APPLICATION 2026/0000005 “I have changed my mind.” I said to granddaughter. As an old man with wrinkles and receding grey hair I feel that I may be permitted to do this, having spent many years considering many things. “That’s O.K.” she replied, “It’s never too late to change your mind.” 1. My first reaction is to support this application. After all, asylum seekers need somewhere to live whilst their applications are being considered and somewhere to live after their applications have been refused, while they wait……… But I am reminded of St Georges Barracks which was once a Government site subsequently redeveloped with housing within listed buildings and with additional modern residential buildings being constructed on the same site. This development provides much needed accommodation in Gosport and enhances its attractiveness and amenity. Perhaps the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre could be repurposed for a better use? 2. In supporting this application I am reminded of Royal Clarence Yard, another Government site where many attractive listed buildings have been repurposed into residential use with some commercial units and new build residential blocks on the same site. There is the added benefit of a seafront location. The modern Milleneum Bridge links to Priddys Hard. This makes me wonder whether the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre could be repurposed for a use better suited to the character of Gosport? 3. Still minded to support this application, I recall the repurposing of historic buildings at Priddys Hard to provide the Explosion Museum, café, and even a brewery with associated bar and restaurant. The museum café and adjacent bar/restaurant terrace have the advantage of a seafront location. One must wonder if a more suitable use could be found for the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre? 4. Whilst this application should indeed be supported I am thinking of another Government facility, dear old HMS Vernon. Old fellows like me will remember that this government site has been redeveloped into a major south coast shopping destination together with a great deal of newly built housing. All of this enjoying a seafront location. The addition of the Spinnaker Tower enhances its attraction. “This is not in Gosport” I hear you say, but it is an amenity which benefits Gosport and is so easily accessible by our ferry. Moreover, it has been said that the development and the Spinnaker Tower is best viewed from the Gosport side of the harbour. You may take this to mean that not all buildings need to be located within Gosport itself to be of benefit to Gosport. 5. In support of this application I have drifted away from Gosport to the other side of the harbour (as above). Now I must return and what better to consider in support of this application than a development more or less adjacent at Royal Hospital Haslar. Here we have historic buildings repurposed for residential use with a cafe and proposals for much more, to include office accommodation new residential blocks and possibly sea front access. All of this will enhance Gosport for now and future generations. All of these recent new developments have enhanced the amenity of Gosport. For many years Gosport has suffered from a reputation of being a somewhat depressed area, but it is being rejuvenated. This should continue for the benefit of all Gosport residents. Against the foregoing I must carefully consider the benefits of rebuilding work now proposed to construct a new prison on the old Immigration Removal Centre site. I must say that whilst in support of it, it appears to have little benefit, if any to Gosport itself. In fact I have heard it said that it returns Gosport to the grim old days of prison hulks in the harbour and press gangs arresting anyone out and about who may not have good reason to be there. In short the mere idea of this particular application is depressing and Gosport deserves better. Gosport deserves exactly the opposite. It deserves just the type of future development that has been approved by Gosport Borough Council in recent years. Gosport and GBC should not be trodden upon by the Home Office. I hear our man at the Home Office saying “But there is no other suitable site for rebuilding of such a centre anywhere else in the whole of the U.K.” To this I must say “Please come down to Gosport and tell me this lie direct to my face.” Well granddaughter, I have given this application a little thought and after due and proper consideration I have changed my mind and do not now support it. As you yourself wisely said “Everyone can change their mind.” ███████████████ ████████████████████████████████████████