Inverness barracks to get £1m revamp in asylum seeker housing plan

A military base in Inverness is to have a £1m revamp as part of its planned use as housing for about 300 asylum seekers.

The Home Office said discussions were underway to use Cameron Barracks and an East Sussex army training camp for asylum accommodation.

The contract is for about 12 buildings at the 140-year-old barracks near Inverness city centre and involves cleaning and redecorating.

Senior Highland councillors and the Scottish government have raised concerns about the suitability of the site.

The category B listed barracks is made up of a number of brick-built buildings.

It was the home of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders from June 1886 until September 1960, and over the years since then has continued to be used by the military.

Parts of the site has also been used as accommodation for people from Afghanistan.

The contract includes cleaning floors, walls, ceilings, doors, and removing dust and cobwebs.

Existing pictures, decorations, signs and notice boards are also to be removed.

The Home Office confirmed the barracks formed part of its plans to end the use of hotels as asylum accommodation.

A spokesperson said: “We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels.

“This government will close every asylum hotel. Work is well underway, with more suitable sites being brought forward to ease pressure on communities.”

They added: “We are working closely with local authorities, property partners and across-government so that we can accelerate delivery.”

The Home Office said asylum seekers would be subject to conditions that they must report back to the site every evening.

It said all sites would comply with safety, security, health and wellbeing standards.

Highland Council, which is to hold a special meeting on the plans next week, said it understood Cameron Barracks would be used in phases as temporary accommodation.

On Tuesday, Independent convenor Bill Lobban, leader and SNP councillor Raymond Bremner and opposition leader and Lib Dem Alasdair Christie raised concerns about the plan.

In a joint statement, they said: “Our main concern is the impact this proposal will have on community cohesion given the scale of the proposals as they currently stand.”

They added: “Inverness is a relatively small community but the potential impact locally and across the wider Highlands appears not to have been taken into consideration by the UK government.”

Scotland’s Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Scottish government had urged the Home Office to work closely with Highland Council.