Council confirms Buxton Halls will not house asylum seekers

Published 15 March 2024

High Peak Borough Council has welcomed confirmation from the Home Office that High Peak Halls in Buxton will not be used to accommodate asylum seekers.

Proposals by Serco, the Home Office's asylum accommodation provider, and the University of Derby last summer caused widespread concern amongst the community who felt that this location was not the right one for vulnerable people, a view shared by the Council, Derbyshire Constabulary and Derbyshire County Council.

The Council has been working collaboratively with Derbyshire Constabulary and Derbyshire County Council to raise our collective concerns about these proposals with the Home Office. This is part of the well-established partnership arrangement between these organisations to promote community safety and support the best interests of High Peak residents.

Council Leader, Councillor Anthony Mckeown, said: "The Council welcomes this clarification and confirmation from the Home Office that the student halls in Buxton will not be used to accommodate asylum seekers and that activity to secure the premises for that purpose has stopped.

"I know this caused a lot of concern in the community so confirmation that this option is no longer on the table will put many minds at rest.

"The Council, along with our partners, never thought that this location was suitable for people seeking asylum and have continued to make the reasons for this clear to the Government. I am pleased that, on this occasion, they have listened to us, our partners and the community and that there is now no prospect of High Peak Halls being used for this purpose."