Abandoned Home Office Project Included Asylum Cells, Council Leader Reveals

A council leader has stated that a £40.8 million project, which was abandoned, intended to construct new offices for civil servants and would also have accommodated individuals whose immigration applications were unsuccessful. During a discussion regarding the decision to discontinue the plans, Jane Ashworth, the Labour leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, disclosed that the envisioned structure at Smithfield was designed to be a “bomb-proof” detention facility, equipped with cells for failed asylum seekers. The project was cancelled in October, following the government’s decision to utilize existing properties to house 500 Home Office personnel within Stoke-on-Trent. Conservative councillors in opposition criticized the government for its decision to abandon the plans. Ashworth explained the high cost of the proposed building, stating it was because “it needed to be protected against violent attack”. She further commented: “Once it was decided by this government that it was not necessary to have those cells outside of the major immigration centres, it was no longer necessary to have such a secure building.” Dan Jellyman, the Conservative group leader, remarked: “It’s a very sad fact that the new Labour government have scrapped that building. Jobs are being taken away, offices closing, buildings not being built.” He added: “As a council, we need to be making it clear to government that this isn’t right.” Councillor Faisal Hussain concurred with Jellyman, stating that abandoning the plans would impede urban regeneration within the city. Ashworth, however, defended the government, asserting that the Conservatives were not “giving a full picture”. She stated: “The 500 jobs in Home Office are here to stay. That was the deal that was made when there was talk about this ‘semi-bomb proof’ building, and it’s still the deal now.” Ashworth concluded: “There’s a lot to be said for repurposing buildings in our city centre, and that is exactly what is happening now.”