Northeye: Government buys ex-jail earmarked as detention site, council says

The government has completed its purchase of a former prison in East Sussex which has been earmarked as a detention centre, a council has said.

Proposals to turn the Northeye site near Bexhill-on-Sea into migrant housing were announced in April.

Rother District Council said no final decision had been taken on its use, and it was pressing the Home Office for more details on its plans.

The Home Office said it did not comment on commercial matters.

Last month Huw Merriman, MP for Bexhill and Battle, said if the plans get the go ahead, Northeye would be a closed detention centre for illegal immigrants.

In a statement, Rother District Council leader Doug Oliver said: "It is our understanding that the government's purchase of the Northeye site has been completed.

"It is disappointing that neither Rother District Council nor local residents were informed by the Home Office of this important change, despite the commitment made to keep all stakeholders informed."

He added the council was "committed to seeking to ensure that any use of the Northeye site is lawful and acceptable and that the views of the local community are heard by all bodies".

The Home Office said: "We are committed to the removal of foreign criminals and those with no right to be in the UK.

"We are exploring the use of the Bexhill site for detention purposes and assessments are being undertaken to consider the feasibility.

"We are working closely with local stakeholders, other government departments and our contractors to ensure the facility is delivered in a way which minimises the impact on the local community."

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