Haslar set to become Europe's largest immigration detention center amid resident protests

Plans to reopen and significantly expand the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre near Gosport, Hampshire, have sparked strong opposition from local residents. The facility, closed for a decade, is slated for a threefold increase in capacity, potentially making it one of the largest of its kind in Europe, capable of holding up to 600 foreign offenders and undocumented immigrants awaiting removal from Britain.

Residents living near the site express deep concern, claiming the announcement has already caused their property values to drop by as much as £25,000 (RM137,742). Their concerns are compounded by the ongoing disruption from construction, which they say has subjected them to two years of early morning noise, making their lives feel "like hell."

The UK Home Office is also planning to increase the capacity of Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre in Oxfordshire from 160 to 400 beds. Both facilities are intended for individuals who have violated immigration laws or are foreign nationals awaiting deportation.

These expansion plans, initially proposed under the Conservative government, are now being pursued by the Labour government with an estimated cost of £399 million (RM2.1 billion). The current largest immigration removal centre in Europe is Harmondsworth, near Heathrow Airport, with a capacity of 676 detainees. Haslar's redevelopment is proceeding in phases, with the first stage involving renovations to existing buildings and the second focusing on new accommodation. The first phase is expected to provide 130 beds by autumn, with the first detainees anticipated in spring 2027.