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Date submitted

6 August 2026

Submitted by

Interested party

Whacking a large three-storey prison in a small residential area when you'd told the residents the development would be a lot smaller was never going to be a good look, was it. I don't mind Phase 1. We live very near the IRC and didn't hear anything when it was in operation before. My main objection to Phase 2 is the fact that the government are indulging in shady behaviour and are trying to railroad through development which wasn't shown to any residents, councillors or the local planning office (and a lot of the plans are heavily redacted). Local planners who know the area's capabilities should have the say on this with the input of residents as usual. I'm also a bit nervous that when everything's up and running, there's nothing to stop the Home Office deciding on a change of use of the establishment and converting it to an initial processing centre where applicants may be able to leave. I haven't seen any guarantees in any plan which give me any reassurance of this, and there's enough pressure at the moment on the Government over use of hotels etc that this may become a consideration.