Buildings to be demolished as Home Office applies for first step of Kent immigration centre expansion
Several buildings in poor condition at an asylum seeker processing centre in Kent will be demolished. The Home Office has submitted plans to knock down the existing structures and move on its bid to build a new facility at Manston.
The application to Thanet District Council (TDC) relates to five buildings at the Manston Processing Centre. The government department submitted the bid to TDC in December to undertake the works at the Manston Road East site near Ramsgate.
Since January 2022, the former RAF Manston base has been used to process people who enter the country by illegally crossing the Channel – who usually reach Kent’s shores.
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The complex has been under scrutiny since it was established due to overcrowding, protests and even an outbreak of the disease scabies and poor quality accommodation. However, the Home Office later announced their plans to build bigger and better facilities at the site.
Announcing its plans in September, the government sent a letter to residents and neighbouring businesses explaining the situation and future of the site.
It said the plans to “upgrade the current temporary infrastructure to provide a more efficient and fit-for-purpose processing centre” would also include “the protection of the local community’s safety given the same high priority as now”. The new facilities will include a new reception, staff training facility, parking, CCTV and a waste treatment facility.
The application for the demolition says: “The buildings have come to the end of their useful life, are redundant and not fit for purpose. Refurbishment is not feasible.”
When asked about the latest plans and next steps, a spokesperson for the Home Office said: “We currently use the Manston site for initial reception and processing of people arriving by small boat and there are no plans to change its use.
“There are long-standing plans to develop a more purpose-built facility to enable more efficient processing and ensure continued security for the local community.
“But over time, as we take down the people smuggling gangs through the work of our Border Security Command, we also expect to see reduced need for the services currently provided at Manston.”
They added that designs for the new facilities are not yet finalised, that the site remains fully detained and secure and meets all relevant standards.
There were also plans for an Immigration Removal Centre at Manston – to hold those awaiting deportation – but those were dropped in March last year.
In August last year, 96 asylum seekers announced they were suing the Home Office over alleged “ill-treatment” at Manston. The government previously said it expects the new buildings to be complete by 2028.