Fort Blockhouse in Hampshire, dating to 1431, could become migrant accommodation as Government explores military sites whilst first deportation flight under ‘one-in, one-out’ deal faces delays
Britain’s oldest operational sea fort could be transformed into accommodation for asylum seekers, with Labour ministers refusing to rule out using the historic Fort Blockhouse in Gosport, Hampshire, to house migrants as the Government grapples with record Channel crossings.
The Home Office is currently reviewing plans to use military sites and warehouses to process and hold asylum seekers, as more than 30,000 people have already crossed the English Channel this year, the earliest point this milestone has been reached since records began in 2018.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard declined to rule out the use of the Hampshire fort, which dates back to 1431, when pressed in the Commons yesterday by Conservative MP for Gosport, Dame Caroline Dinenage. “As every Government department can contribute something to this effort to tackle the small boats crisis, it’s right that the Ministry of Defence does so,” Mr Pollard stated during parliamentary questions.
Historic Fort Under Consideration
Fort Blockhouse, established in 1431 under authorisation from Henry VI, represents nearly six centuries of British naval history. The timber blockhouse was originally built on the Gosport side of Portsmouth Harbour, with a chain strung across to a similar tower in Portsmouth that could be raised to prevent enemy ships from entering the harbour.
The fort’s strategic importance has endured through centuries of conflict. In 1495, the defences were upgraded and armed with five guns. The site was targeted and partially destroyed by French forces during the Hundred Years War, highlighting its military significance even in medieval times.
By 1539, Henry VIII ordered the replacement of the original blockhouse with an eight-gun battery following his divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The fort continued evolving through the centuries, with Sir Bernard de Gomme installing a 21-gun battery for Charles II in 1667.
In 1905, the Royal Navy took over the fort, transforming it into HMS Dolphin, which became the spiritual home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service until 1995. The base remained active in various capacities until December 2021, when it was formally closed, though it continues to be used as a military field hospital under the 2nd Medical Brigade.
MPs Express Concern Over Plans
Dame Caroline Dinenage called the potential conversion a “terrible outcome” for her constituency, describing Fort Blockhouse as a “unique and special asset with such large potential.” The Conservative MP’s concerns reflect broader unease about the Government’s approach to asylum accommodation amid rising Channel crossings.
Mr Pollard’s response indicated the department’s comprehensive review of potential sites. “We’re looking at all the military sites that the MoD has,” he explained. Some of those have been visited by the Home Office in the past, both under this Government and especially under the previous administration.
The Defence Minister emphasised the immediate priorities driving the search for alternative accommodation. “The priority now is not only to process the asylum applicants that weren’t being done under the last Government, that we’re speeding up, but to close the asylum hotels,” he stated. “So to do that, we’ve got to provide temporary and adequate accommodation.”
Record Channel Crossings Intensify Pressure
The number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel has topped 30,000 for the year so far, marking the earliest point in a calendar year at which this threshold has been passed since data collection began in 2018. Some 1,097 migrants crossed the Channel in 17 boats on Saturday alone, bringing the total for 2025 to 30,100, according to Home Office figures.
This represents a 37 per cent increase compared with the same point last year (22,028) and is 37 per cent higher than at this stage in 2023 (21,918). Last year, the 30,000 mark was not reached until October 30, whilst in 2023 crossings totalled just 29,437 for the entire year.
The surge in arrivals has placed enormous strain on the asylum system. According to National Audit Office estimates, the asylum system is likely to cost over £15 billion over ten years. Housing asylum seekers in hotels currently costs taxpayers over £8 million per day, nearly £3 billion annually, according to figures cited by Lord Davies of Gower in the House of Lords earlier this year.
Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed that military planners and the Home Office are discussing the use of “military and non-military” temporary sites. We are looking at the potential use of military and non-military sites for temporary accommodation for the people who come across on these small boats,” he told Sky News.
Deportation Deal Faces Setback
Downing Street remains under pressure as the first flight containing a migrant to be deported under Sir Keir Starmer’s “one-in, one-out” deal with France was cancelled at the last minute, according to reports suggesting protests and legal action by charities have caused delays.
Under the reciprocal arrangement agreed with France in June, asylum seekers who arrive in the UK on small boats would be sent back to France within weeks, in exchange for Britain accepting an equal number of asylum seekers from France who have legitimate British links, such as family connections.
Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones insisted deportations would proceed but refused to provide a timeline, claiming transparency would benefit people smugglers. Speaking on Times Radio this morning, she said she would not give a “running commentary” on when deportations would occur.
“These deportations will be happening as soon as possible,” the MP for Pontypridd stated, whilst declining to specify dates. When pressed on why she would not comment, Davies-Jones explained: “If I was to break down with you exactly a time-by-time, day-by-day movement on our returns policy, then that would be giving these abhorrent people smugglers exactly what they want.”
She added: “This would be allowing them to know what the Government is doing when, and they would be able to respond to that. We are not going to be doing them any favours.”
Military Sites Increasingly Used for Asylum Accommodation
The consideration of Fort Blockhouse follows a pattern of converting military facilities for asylum accommodation. The previous Conservative government had already established two disused military bases, RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire and RAF Wethersfield in Essex, to house several hundred asylum seekers each.
Earlier this year, Napier Barracks in Kent, which had been used as asylum accommodation since 2020, was closed and handed back to the Ministry of Defence following sustained criticism. A High Court ruling in 2021 had found conditions at Napier Barracks to be unlawful, though the site continued operating under revised arrangements until its closure.
Just this week, three individual claimants succeeded in a judicial review claiming they had been unlawfully accommodated at the former RAF base in Wethersfield. The court held that the Home Office had breached the Public Sector Equality Duty, though the Government has increased the site’s capacity despite campaigns calling for its closure.
The use of military sites has proved controversial, with critics arguing remote locations lack appropriate transport infrastructure and integration opportunities. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly previously criticised plans to house asylum seekers at Wethersfield in his Essex constituency, calling the site “inappropriate” due to its isolation.
European Opposition to Returns Deal
The UK’s “one-in, one-out” deal with France has attracted opposition from five southern European countries, including Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus. These nations sent a letter to the European Commission expressing “serious concerns” about the bilateral arrangement, fearing France could use existing EU rules to pass migrants on to their countries.
The five signatories worry that France might invoke regulations allowing asylum seekers to be returned to their first country of entry into the EU, effectively redistributing those taken back from Britain across southern Europe. “We believe it is essential to clarify whether the agreement may produce any direct or indirect consequences for other member states,” they wrote.
A European Commission spokesperson confirmed: “We are in contact with the French and the UK authorities to ensure the necessary clarifications are made.”
Despite these complications, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, newly appointed to the role following a Cabinet reshuffle, described the Channel crossings as “utterly unacceptable” and vowed the first returns would take place “imminently.”
As the Government continues exploring options for asylum accommodation whilst navigating complex international agreements, the fate of historic Fort Blockhouse remains uncertain, symbolising broader challenges in managing unprecedented migration pressures whilst preserving Britain’s heritage assets.
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Image Credit:
Fort Blockhouse in Gosport — photo by Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0.
