The Home Office is planning to demolish old buildings at the Kent immigration centre to make way for new facilities aimed at improving conditions.
Kent: So, the Home Office is gearing up to demolish some rundown buildings at the asylum seeker processing centre in Manston. They’ve put in plans to tear down the old structures and kick off their expansion project.
This application is for five buildings at the Manston Processing Centre, which has been in the spotlight for a while now. The government sent their proposal to Thanet District Council back in December, looking to get things moving at the site near Ramsgate.
Since early 2022, this former RAF base has been the go-to spot for processing folks who arrive in the UK by crossing the Channel. You know, the ones who usually land on Kent’s shores.
But it hasn’t been smooth sailing. The centre has faced a lot of criticism over overcrowding, protests, and even a scabies outbreak. The Home Office has promised to build better facilities to improve the situation.
In September, they reached out to local residents and businesses to explain what’s happening and what’s next for the site. They want to upgrade the current setup to make it more efficient and safe for everyone involved.
The new plans include a reception area, staff training space, parking, CCTV, and a waste treatment facility. Sounds like they’re trying to make it a bit more organized.
The demolition application states that the current buildings are outdated and not fit for purpose. Refurbishing them just isn’t an option anymore.
A spokesperson for the Home Office mentioned that they’re still using the Manston site for processing people arriving by small boats, and there are no changes planned for that just yet.
They also talked about long-term plans to create a more suitable facility for processing, which should help keep the local community secure.
As they work to dismantle people smuggling operations, they expect the need for services at Manston to decrease over time.
However, the designs for the new facilities aren’t finalized yet, but they assure that the site is secure and meets all necessary standards.
There were earlier plans for an Immigration Removal Centre at Manston, but those got scrapped last March.
Last August, 96 asylum seekers even filed a lawsuit against the Home Office, claiming they faced “ill-treatment” at Manston. The government hopes to have the new buildings ready by 2028.
