Title

LEGAL

Council to take legal action against asylum centre

Hambleton DC is to take legal action against Government plans to create a centre for asylum seekers in the district.

Hambleton DC is to take legal action against Government plans to create a centre for asylum seekers in the district.

Under the plans, more than 1,000 men aged between 18 and 40 would be housed at the former RAF base while their applications are processed.

However, the council said it had 'great concerns' about the lack of consultation on the proposals and the impact it would have on the community.

Council chief executive Justin Ives said: 'We now understand from subsequent conversations this week that the Government has every intention of pressing ahead with the plans.

'In response to this, Hambleton DC has instructed lawyers to start work on mounting a legal challenge of the Government's decision.

'As the local authority, we are extremely disappointed by the lack of consultation and involvement on this so far and have made this clear to Government during our discussions.'

The Government said the centre would reduce the cost of placing asylum seekers in temporary accommodation.

A spokesperson for the Home Office added: 'The asylum reception centre at Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire, will help end our reliance on expensive hotels, which are costing the taxpayer £4.7m a day.

'We are consulting with local stakeholders about the use of the site.'

LEGAL

South Kesteven in clash with ombudsman

By Martin Ford | 02 April 2026

South Kesteven DC is facing further action from a watchdog for refusing to compensate a homeless man after failing to properly support him.

LEGAL

Government silence on planning fees control timeline

By Dan Peters | 02 April 2026

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has refused to indicate when councils will be enabled to fix their own planning fees.

LEGAL

Councils must be empowered to set all fees and charges

By Ian Miller | 02 April 2026

Ian Miller says it’s time to end the centralism where fees and charges 'are set by Whitehall, don’t take account of councils’ costs and are infrequently upda...

LEGAL

Toil, then trouble on LGR

By Martin Ford | 02 April 2026

The Government has announced its decisions on new unitaries in four of the Devolution Priority Programme areas. But Essex CC is threatening legal action, cou...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman