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Date submitted

5 August 2026

Submitted by

Interested party

I wish to object to the proposed expansion of the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre. As a local resident, I have seen the Haslar Peninsula gradually evolve into one of the most attractive and promising parts of Gosport. It is an area with a unique combination of maritime history, heritage buildings and waterfront surroundings, and I believe planning decisions should reinforce that character rather than detract from it. My concern is not with the current use of the site, but with the scale of the proposed expansion. Increasing the facility to accommodate up to 600 detainees represents a substantial intensification that feels out of keeping with the wider direction of the peninsula. Significant public and private investment has already been made in restoring historic buildings and creating new homes, and further developments are planned. I worry that this proposal risks sending the area in a conflicting direction at a time when Haslar has the opportunity to become one of Gosport’s most successful regeneration areas. I am also concerned that the cumulative effects of this development have not been fully considered. As more homes, businesses and visitor destinations are created around the peninsula, it is important that major developments complement one another. I am not convinced this proposal demonstrates how a significantly larger detention centre would sit comfortably alongside those ambitions. The Haslar Peninsula is a special part of Gosport with enormous long-term potential. Planning decisions made today will shape the area for decades to come, and I believe this site should contribute positively to the wider vision for the peninsula rather than compromise it. For these reasons, I respectfully ask the Planning Inspector to refuse planning permission for the proposed expansion.