The UK government has U-turned on a decision to house asylum seekers in new-build homes in Stoke Heath, announcing that no asylum seekers will be sent to the site and those already housed there will be relocated. The intervention came after local residents expressed strong opposition and it was revealed that veterans were on a waiting list for social housing in the same area.
Approximately 83 asylum seekers were slated to move into 21 newly constructed homes, each valued at £250,000. Residents voiced concerns that the influx would devalue their properties, overwhelm local services, and compromise safety. "New homes should never house asylum seekers," a Home Office spokesperson stated. "The Home Secretary has directly intervened to stop migrants being moved into the Stoke Heath development and no asylum seekers remain on site."
The revelation that 131 veterans were on Shropshire Council's register for social housing, with seven making homelessness applications, intensified criticism. "This disgraceful decision is a slap in the face to veterans who served our country and defended our freedoms, yet are pushed aside for illegal immigrants who have no right to even be here," said Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp. "Labour do not have the backbone to tackle this issue."
Local Conservative MP Mark Pritchard urged Shropshire Council, which is led by the Liberal Democrats, to prioritize veterans' housing needs over what he described as a secret placement of asylum seekers. Reform's home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf called it a "national disgrace" that veterans were placed in the housing queue behind asylum seekers.
Shropshire Council stated that the decision to house asylum seekers at Dutton Close, Stoke Heath, was made by the Home Office and its partners, not the council. Council officials had reportedly opposed the site and raised concerns with the Home Office. Originally, the 25 new properties were approved in 2016 with the promise of affordable housing for the community.
Residents also pointed out the unsuitability of Stoke Heath as a location for asylum seekers, describing it as remote with limited local amenities and poor public transport. Parish councillor Jason Scott noted the danger of walking to the nearest shop along a busy road without a pavement, stating, "We just don't have the infrastructure locally to cope."
Even the local charity Shropshire Supports Refugees acknowledged the practical challenges, noting the remoteness from services and reliance on distant public transport. This situation in Stoke Heath echoes concerns raised in other communities, such as Crowborough in East Sussex, where asylum seekers were housed in an army training camp despite local objections.
As of March, a significant number of asylum seekers were in temporary accommodation across the UK, with 20,855 in hotels and an additional 72,768 in other forms of housing while awaiting their claims to be processed.
