A historic military base in Inverness is set to undergo a £1 million refurbishment as part of the UK government’s plan to convert disused sites into housing for asylum seekers. The Home Office confirmed that Cameron Barracks, located near Inverness city centre, could soon accommodate around 300 people seeking asylum, amid efforts to phase out the use of hotels across the UK.
The redevelopment will cover about 12 buildings within the 140-year-old Cameron Barracks complex. The contract includes extensive cleaning, redecorating, and removal of old signage and decorations. Built in 1886, the site was originally home to the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders and has remained in partial military use since 1960. More recently, parts of the barracks were used to accommodate Afghan refugees following the Taliban takeover in 2021.
The Home Office said the refurbishment aims to make the site “safe, secure, and suitable” for temporary accommodation, stressing that asylum seekers would be required to report back to the site each evening. The government added that all facilities will comply with health, safety, and wellbeing standards.
Ending the Use of Asylum Hotels
A Home Office spokesperson said the project forms part of the wider national effort to end reliance on hotels for asylum accommodation. “We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels. This government will close every asylum hotel,” the spokesperson said. “Work is well underway, with more suitable sites being brought forward to ease pressure on communities.”
The government has been under growing pressure to reduce spending on hotel accommodation, which reportedly costs taxpayers millions of pounds per day. Alternative sites such as disused military bases, barges, and modular housing are being identified to house asylum seekers while their applications are processed.
Local Opposition and Community Concerns
The plans have sparked strong reactions from Highland Council and members of the Scottish government. Senior councillors, including Independent convenor Bill Lobban, SNP leader Raymond Bremner, and Liberal Democrat councillor Alasdair Christie, expressed concern about the scale and potential impact of the proposal.
In a joint statement, they warned: “Our main concern is the impact this proposal will have on community cohesion given the scale of the proposals as they currently stand. 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.”
The Scottish Government’s Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville also urged the Home Office to engage more closely with Highland Council to ensure local concerns are addressed before implementation.
UK’s Shifting Asylum Policy
The move comes as part of the UK government’s broader strategy to deter irregular migration and reduce the financial burden of housing asylum seekers in hotels. Similar conversions are being considered at other Ministry of Defence sites, including one in East Sussex. The government insists the new accommodation approach will be more sustainable and community-based, though critics argue it risks placing disproportionate strain on local services.
