The UK Home Office is facing renewed anger over plans to dramatically increase the number of asylum seekers housed in residential properties in Breckland, Norfolk. Officials admitted at a meeting with county councillors that they intend to use 240 rooms in houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) for asylum seekers, a substantial rise from the current 56 available beds. This proposed increase of 428 percent has drawn criticism from local officials and residents, particularly in Thetford, which has already been the site of protests against asylum seeker accommodation.
The intensified plans for HMOs come as the area grapples with ongoing demonstrations near RAF Barnham, a former military base slated to house at least 1,250 migrants. Scott Hussey, a senior Reform councillor for Norfolk County Council and Breckland District Council, described the HMO proposal as a "double whammy" for the region, accusing the Home Office of "pouring fuel on the fire" by accelerating the housing of "young, single, undocumented men" into communities.
Sam Chapman-Allen, Conservative leader of Breckland Council, has been a vocal critic of the government's "dispersed accommodation" policy, which aims to move asylum seekers out of hotels. He stated that the government's approach of placing asylum seekers into communities without adequate consultation, infrastructure, or support services is "completely unacceptable." Chapman-Allen called for a fundamental change in national policy, demanding full transparency and meaningful consultation with councils and residents.
Previous protests in Thetford in early August saw violence erupt, with residents surrounding properties. The disorder continued over several nights, resulting in injuries to two police officers and several arrests. Similar protests occurred in Watton in May when migrants were moved from a hotel in Bowthorpe to properties in the town. Dereham, another town in Breckland, has also experienced disputes over a hotel used for asylum seeker accommodation.
According to a transcript from a meeting between Home Office officials and Norfolk County Council on August 5, a civil servant noted that Breckland was below its target for dispersal accommodation, with only 56 bed spaces currently available. The meeting also surfaced concerns that the number of men housed at RAF Barnham could exceed the initial estimate of 1,250.
Terry Jermy, the Labour MP for South West Norfolk, while acknowledging the government's efforts to reduce immigration, expressed his opposition to the use of HMOs for asylum seekers and urged the Home Office to cease the practice.
Home Office figures indicate that as of March, 72,768 asylum seekers were in "dispersal" accommodation, typically HMOs, while 20,885 were in hotels. A Home Office spokeswoman stated that community concerns are central to immigration reforms and that the department is working to "fairly house asylum seekers across the country" while engaging with local authorities to mitigate community impact. The spokesperson added that the government is closing all asylum hotels and moving asylum seekers into alternative accommodations, including former military sites.
