PLANS to move 600 migrants into a detention centre next to homes that have been met with fury will now face a public inquiry in a win for locals.

The Government faced backlash over its plans to re-open Haslar Removal Centre and expand its operations.

SNHaslar - Government plans to detain 600 illegal migrants metres from people's homes have been slammed as 'tragic'An inquiry is now set to be held into the development of the IRC Credit: Solent SNHaslar - Government plans to detain 600 illegal migrants metres from people's homes have been slammed as 'tragic'Locals raised security concerns about the IRC, which they say were ignored Credit: Solent

According to locals, the site – which is used to house detained migrants – is one of the closest to people’s in the country.

Locals living by the removal centre [IRC] in Gosport, Hampshire, publicly slammed the Government’s plans – raising concerns over security and infrastructure.

Work is ongoing to bring Haslar Immigration Removal Centre [IRC] back into use after its closure in 2015, with the first phase creating 130 beds and second phase expanding this to 600 beds.

However, the Home Office used the Crown Development route to plan the second phase – bypassing the local council’s usual decision-making process and ignoring locals’ voices.

NINTCHDBJOBS000001174400Locals said the new three-storey blocks would allow migrants to see into their homes Credit: Solent SNHaslar - Government plans to detain 600 illegal migrants metres from people's homes have been slammed as 'tragic'When asked about the site previously, locals said they worried they would be the ‘first targets’ Credit: Solent

But now the Planning Inspectorate has announced a public inquiry of the “highest level of scrutiny” will be heard on November 17 before Haslar is opened.

The Inspectorate said an inquiry was necessary because the application has generated “considerable local interest” and because “some of the issues raised are complex and the evidence would benefit from formal cross-examination.”

The decision came just a day after a meeting between the residents most affected by the Haslar plans, MP for Gosport Dame and Leader of Gosport Borough Council Cllr Zoe Huggins BEM.

Dame Caroline, who has been at the forefront of opposing the plans, accused the Home Office of doing “its utmost to avoid engaging with local people.”

She said at the meeting: “I was disappointed that given the tragic record of engagement by the Home Office they decided to refuse this opportunity to meet the people living closest to Haslar and hear what they had to say.

“Residents spoke very powerfully about the impact this is already having on their daily lives, whether that is construction traffic passing their front doors, concerns about security or simply not knowing who at the Home Office they are supposed to contact when something goes wrong.”

Dame Caroline has now praised the decision to launch an inquiry into the site’s expansion.

She said: “This is an important victory for local residents whose opposition has been vindicated. An inquiry is exactly what I called for in my objection.

“The Planning Inspectorate has recognised that there is considerable local interest in these proposals and, crucially, that some of the issues we have raised are sufficiently complex that they need to be properly tested.

“The Government chose to pursue this development through the Crown Development process rather than the normal local planning system.

SNHaslar - Government plans to detain 600 illegal migrants metres from people's homes have been slammed as 'tragic'The Home Office previously said it ‘makes no apologies’ for expanding its operation at the site Credit: Solent SNHaslar - Government plans to detain 600 illegal migrants metres from people's homes have been slammed as 'tragic'Haslar is used as an Immigration Removal Centre Credit: Solent

“It is therefore particularly important that the Planning Inspectorate has now agreed that its proposals should face the highest level of scrutiny available.”

Residents said it was “tragic” and added that they felt their objections to the site’s development were being ignored.

But now they say they have been “vindicated” with the plans for the site set to face a public inquiry with the “highest level of scrutiny.”

Cllr Huggins also welcomed the and said it meant that residents were being heard.

She said: “This decision vindicates the concerns that Gosport Borough Council and local residents have been raising throughout this process.

“We have consistently argued that an application of this significance cannot simply be pushed through without the proper opportunity for the evidence to be scrutinised and local concerns to be heard.

“I wrote directly to the Home Secretary to raise our further concerns about both the proposals themselves and the process being used. The Planning Inspectorate has now agreed that the complexity of the issues warrants a full Inquiry where the evidence can be properly tested.

“The council will continue to stand up for Gosport and ensure that our residents’ voices are heard throughout what happens next.”

When homeowners said they were concerned that the three storey blocks will and allow the migrants to see into their gardens and windows.

Others said that the detained migrants would be suddenly introduced into the neighbourhood with no integration, raising security concerns.

People living just metres away from the 600-person immigration centre said they feared they’ll be the “first targets” when migrants move in.

They claim their concerns about security and privacy have been completely overlooked.

Concerns about the 600 migrants themselves were joined by the three-year issues from constant construction, including traffic, dust and noise polluting the neighbourhood.

The Home Office claimed plans for the site always detailed a 600-person capacity.

Angela Bryant, 88, says her garden backs onto the centre and she worries people will be able to see into her home.

While , 65, is a retired civil servant at the MoD who has lived at his home opposite the site for 20 years.

He said he had worries about security, adding: “There will be 600 detainees – I’ll refer to them as detainees. The refers to them as residents but they’re not.

“We have got worries about the security for us all. It’s not like where the inmates have work like joinery or mail to keep them occupied. There will be 600 of them with nothing to do.”

Dame Caroline previously said: “Since announcing the expansion of Haslar to 600 beds the Government has done its utmost to avoid engaging with local people.

“Last week I invited the Home Office to a public meeting with residents but they failed to attend.

“The height of the buildings is a serious concern compounded by the fact it was revealed without warning at a small engagement session last year.

“Since then all planning decisions have been taken away from the local authority and there are limited opportunities for local people to have their say, something I have raised repeatedly with Ministers.”

An inquiry is the highest level of scrutiny available when examining the application and is currently due for November 17, 2026, with the details to be confirmed.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “All Crown Development planning applications require extensive engagement, and a public inquiry of this kind is a standard part of the process.

“We encourage residents and stakeholders to share their views through the formal process.

“Since the election we have returned or deported over 80,000 individuals, including 11,733 foreign national offenders, and these investments are essential to continue ramping up these removals.”