The Home Office has performed a dramatic U-turn on controversial plans to house 35 asylum seekers in a converted former Peacocks clothing shop in Waterlooville town centre, following fierce opposition led by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and thousands of local residents.
The decision to abandon the scheme comes after approximately 2,000 demonstrators packed into Waterlooville precinct on 30 July for a peaceful protest, with more than 10,000 residents signing a petition organised by the Conservative MP for Fareham and Waterlooville opposing the proposals. Home Office contractor Clearsprings Ready Homes has now confirmed it will no longer be seeking to “procure” the space in the Hampshire market town.
Havant Borough Council announced on 8 August that the Home Office considered the consultation response from HBC alongside other evidence and has decided not to purchase the property as the accommodation has been deemed unsuitable for asylum dispersal accommodation.
The abandoned proposal would have seen 35 asylum seekers, including couples and single parents with young children, housed in flats above retail units at 286-288 London Road. The Home Office had previously stated the accommodation would be “best suited for the use of couples, or single parents with young children”, contradicting claims that the site would house single men.
‘Patriotic’ Victory Claimed
Ms Braverman, who served as Home Secretary from September 2022 to November 2023, hailed the decision as a triumph for local democracy. “I am very pleased that the Home Office has been forced to U-turn on their plans to house illegal migrants in Waterlooville”, she told The Telegraph.
The MP, who has represented the constituency since 2015, struck a defiant tone: “Those of us who have stood up against this have been called racist, ‘inflammatory’ and ‘divisive’. We are none of these things. Well done to the patriotic people of Waterlooville who took a stand for our community and for our country”.
In a stark warning about future immigration policy, Ms Braverman declared: “We must not give up. This invasion must end. Any person who arrives illegally in our country must be detained in a secure facility and deported”.
Council Leader Condemns ‘Inflammatory’ Language
The victory lap has been marred by a bitter clash between Ms Braverman and Havant Borough Council Leader Phil Munday, who has repeatedly criticised the MP’s rhetoric throughout the controversy.
Mr Munday, a Labour councillor, accused Ms Braverman of using “inaccurate” and “offensive” comments in opposition to plans to house asylum seekers in Waterlooville that “flames fears”. He was particularly critical of her terminology, stating: “Repeated reference to illegal immigrants and unwanted men flames fears when we know as a matter of fact all users of the proposed accommodation are supported asylum seekers”.
The council leader added: “Inaccurate terminology on a topic which is emotional for many is deeply inappropriate, potentially inflammatory and ultimately misleading the residents we are here to serve. I urge the Member of Parliament to consider her words on this issue more wisely going forward”.
Fire Safety Concerns Raised
Beyond the political rhetoric, practical concerns about the proposed accommodation played a crucial role in the decision. Havant Borough Council had raised significant issues about the building not being compliant with fire regulations, and asked how the safety of its inhabitants would be ensured.
Mr Munday emphasised the council’s position: “To be absolutely clear, the council did not approve the use of the building”. The authority had been engaged in formal consultation with the Home Office since late July, after initially missing the consultation due to Clearsprings using an incorrect email address.
Clearsprings Under Scrutiny
The abandoned scheme would have been managed by Clearsprings Ready Homes, a controversial private contractor that has faced persistent criticism over its management of asylum accommodation. The company, founded by Graham King who was named among Britain’s 350 richest people in 2024 with a net worth of £750 million, holds contracts worth over £1 billion to provide asylum accommodation in Wales and southern England until 2029.
Accommodation and services provided by Clearsprings have been repeatedly investigated and criticised for their poor quality, with some asylum seekers living in what has been described as “dire living conditions”. The company recorded pre-tax profits of £62.5 million in 2023, a staggering 121 per cent increase from £28 million the previous year.
Wider Context of Asylum Accommodation Crisis
The Waterlooville controversy unfolds against a backdrop of significant changes in asylum accommodation policy. “From over 400 asylum hotels open in summer 2023, costing almost £9million a day, there are now less than 210, and we want them all closed by the end of this Parliament”, a Home Office spokesman stated this week.
Labour has adopted what it calls a “fair share” approach in which it is attempting to ensure all councils play a part in housing asylum seekers rather than concentrating their accommodation in particular local authorities. This policy shift has led to tensions in communities previously unaffected by asylum dispersal schemes.
Despite the Waterlooville U-turn, the Home Office has warned it will continue seeking alternative locations in the area. In a letter to Ms Braverman, officials stated they would still be seeking to house asylum seekers in her area “to ensure that we can meet our statutory responsibilities”.
Pattern of Opposition
The Waterlooville protest follows a pattern of resistance to asylum accommodation across the UK. At its peak on 30 July, approximately 2,000 people gathered in the town centre, with demonstrators waving England flags and chanting “send them home”. Ms Braverman praised the protest’s peaceful nature, noting “Zero offences, arrests and no disorder”.
This is not Ms Braverman’s first victory against asylum accommodation plans in her constituency. In April, similar proposals for 27 flats at Wates House in Fareham town centre were abandoned after fierce local opposition and a petition organised by the MP.
Government’s Asylum Strategy Under Pressure
The Home Office maintains it has made significant progress in addressing the asylum accommodation crisis. “Since taking office, we have taken immediate action to fix the asylum system and have started closing down hotels and returning more than 35,000 people with no right to be here”, a spokesman said.
According to the latest data, 32,345 asylum seekers were being housed in hotels at the end of March 2025, approximately 31 per cent of all those receiving accommodation support. This represents a decrease from the peak of 56,042 in September 2023 but an increase from 29,585 when Labour took office in July 2024.
The government estimates that reforms to the asylum system will reduce costs by at least £1 billion per year by 2028-29, though officials acknowledge this projection involves “inherent uncertainty”. The average cost of asylum hotels has been reduced from £8.3 million per day in 2023-24 to £5.77 million per day in 2024-25.
What Happens Next
While Waterlooville residents celebrate their campaign’s success, the broader challenges of asylum accommodation remain unresolved. The Home Office’s commitment to finding alternative sites in the area ensures this issue will continue to generate controversy.
For Ms Braverman, who was sacked as Home Secretary in November 2023 after defying then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over an article accusing the Metropolitan Police of bias, the victory provides a platform to maintain her hardline stance on immigration. Her use of terms like “invasion” and “illegal migrants” continues to draw criticism from council leaders and refugee advocates.
As the government pursues its goal of closing all asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament, communities across Britain face the prospect of similar controversies. The Waterlooville case demonstrates how asylum accommodation has become a flashpoint for broader debates about immigration, community cohesion and the allocation of public resources.
The 35 asylum seekers originally destined for Waterlooville will now be housed elsewhere, likely in existing hotels or other contingency accommodation, highlighting the ongoing challenge of finding suitable housing for those seeking protection in the UK.
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Image Credit (Shortened):
Suella Braverman questioned by the Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee, 21 Dec 2022 – by House of Lords / Roger Harris, © House of Lords 2022, via Wikimedia Commons
