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Date submitted

3 August 2026

Submitted by

Interested party

I strongly object to the “Phase 2” expansion of the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre proposed at Crown Development Application CROWN/2026/0000005. I was previously a serving Councillor on Gosport Borough Council and at the first public engagement event by the MoJ/Home Office, we were assured that the IRC operation would solely cater for male detainees whose asylum applications had been determined and rejected, and that all detainees would be repatriated directly from the HASLAR IRC. It is now clear that that will not be the case and that, should it operate at its full capacity of 600 detainees then there could be up to 8,000 detainees taken into the Haslar IRC each year with up to 50% of those released on bail into Gosport – indeed the latest fact sheet from the MoJ, and this application, makes clear that the IRC will provide transport to take those so released down to Gosport Ferry. But there is then no compunction with regard to where these individuals would then go. If even a small percentage of the 4,000 or so choose to remain in Gosport, then they will overwhelm not only Council resources, but also those of other local services and accommodation with a hugely detrimental effect on what is already recognised as an area of significant deprivation (as envisaged by the JSNA). I also understand that this is one of the first planning applications being determined under the Crown Development route which is now available to the Government with the consequence that the Local Planning Authority and Councillors have no role in its determination. This is disappointing in itself, but it is made even worse by the considerable amount of redaction in the application which severely constrains residents’ ability to make a proper assessment. If the process is not going to be called into disrepute, I firmly believe that the decision process option to consider the application should be through a public hearing. I confirm that I would wish to attend. Gosport has suffered significantly over the years in large part because of the significant drawdown of MoD facilities. Considerable work has gone into a regeneration plan for Gosport and the Regeneration of the Haslar Peninsula is a core part of this. Policy LP3 of the Gosport Borough Council Local Plan and Policy D2 of the emerging GBCLP 2042 (Reg 19 stage) identifies the Regeneration Areas across the town and the Haslar Peninsula is arguably the most important of the 5 Regeneration Areas. Indeed, there has already been significant process with some of the Ras on the peninsula: 1. Fort Blockhouse – currently MoD but due to be released for development imminently, 2. Royal Hospital Halsar (RHH)– underdevelopment with sections open housing approximately 300 residents and with planning granted for the next phase and with a likely total of the 1200 residents together with an 80 bed hotel, a restaurant and bar, care facilities and artisan workshops. 3. Haslar Gunboat Sheds and Traverser – planning and work commenced 4. Haslar Qinetiq Site – outline planning progressing and designated as an employment site and 5. The Piggeries – planning permission for 58 residential units. Paragraph 3.143 of the GBCLP 2042 also makes clear that this area contains a number of nationally significant heritage assets as well as being located in an attractive coastal setting and stresses the major opportunities presented to the town by this area as well as connecting up to other initiatives such as the Waterfront Trail and Heritage Action Zone. But paragraph 3.144 goes on to describe the constrained access to and from the peninsula. In addition to the designated RAs, there is also currently a separate planning application for 15 houses and a large nursing home on the old DSTL/Qinetiq site on Fort Road opposite to the Crescent Road entrance which would bring a degrading brownfield site back into use and add to the Gosport’s housing target as well as provide a required facility for the care of the elderly. The development of Phase 2 of the IRC would conflict with all of the above and it is most disappointing that the Transport Assessment not only failed to take into account the existing, and increasing, movements from the RHH site, but also the future needs for the whole of the Haslar Regeneration Area. It is incompatible with those developments. As an aside, the TA was one of the most heavily redacted documents in the application which made it difficult to properly assess the predicted movements associated with the IRC itself. Paragraph 3.146 of the GBCLP 2042 also states that “development proposals must be compatible with, and seek to preserve and enhance the significant on-site heritage sites”. This application fails to do so with respect to the Haslar Barracks Conservation Area, which will be overshadowed by the size and scale of the proposed buildings and public access and appreciation will be severely restricted by Phase 2. Policies DE4, DE5 and DE6 in the GBCLP 2042, which themselves are consistent with the NPPF, provide the background and basis for rejecting this application as being incompatible with those requirements. It should also be noted, that should this development be approved, it will also likely limit and constrain public access to the nationally important Heritage parts on the RHH and Fort Blockhouse sites. The sheer scale and appearance of this high security infrastructure and transport requirements are incompatible with the accessible residential, employment, leisure, tourism and heritage-led environment laid out in the Local Plan. Approving this application would have severely detrimental consequences not only for the Haslar Peninsula but also for the planned, and necessary, regeneration of the whole town. It should also be noted, that the Indicative Lighting Assessment submitted as part of the Planning Application makes clear in paragraph 2, that “The purpose of the facility….may change”, and goes on to state that the design team have been instructed to “follow Ministry of Justice Category C design guidance.” This further invalidates the already flawed Transport Assessment and I would contend that the Haslar Peninsula is an even less suitable location for a Category C prison which would bring with it an even greater number potential issues adversely affecting the peninsula and Gosport Town itself. Any consideration of approval for Phase 2 of the IRC must take into account this stated/planned potential change of use. Loss of housing and residential accommodation In the Regulation 18 draft of the GBCLP 2042 Local Plan there was an allocation of 225 houses for the site which had been agreed with the MoJ. Regrettably, the MoJ subsequently withdrew this and it is no longer in the Reg 19 draft of the plan. This has significantly affected GBC’s ability to meet its housing needs, including affordable housing. Given its sensitive location to the Regeneration of Gosport as alluded to above, housing would be an ideal solution for this site. The MoJ/HO should be required to justify the withdrawal of this site for such development. For the reasons laid out above, I believe the proposed scale of development in this this application is not consistent with the GBCLP and the much needed regeneration of this significantly deprived area.