The initiative to relocate migrants from hotels has received support from Conservative MPs. Sir John Hayes, a former minister, emphasized the importance of removing migrants from hotels due to the significant burden on taxpayers. He also acknowledged the valid concerns of his constituents who would not be able to afford staying in such hotels. Hayes expressed his support for concentration centers like the floating barges, stating that alternative accommodations are necessary.
Craig Mackinlay, the South Thanet MP, suggested that using alternative accommodation could potentially reduce deaths in the Channel. He believes that staying in barges or other non-luxurious accommodations would act as a deterrent for migrants.
The debate over utilizing student accommodation arises as universities also face a shortage of available housing for students at the start of the upcoming term. Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute think tank, agreed that repurposing well-designed student accommodation could be appropriate. However, he expressed concern about the current shortage of student housing. Hillman further acknowledged that certain towns and cities, such as Coventry, have a surplus of student accommodation and could potentially house migrants.
In the past, the Home Office successfully relocated migrants to a former student accommodation complex in Coventry. Nonetheless, Hillman cautioned that student accommodation providers may hesitate to participate in accommodating migrants due to potential backlash from their primary clientele, the students.
The possibility of using unused student accommodation as housing for migrants varies across the country. Cities like Leicester, Portsmouth, Lincoln, Stoke-on-Trent, and Huddersfield have surplus places, while Durham, Southampton, Glasgow, Bristol, and York face acute shortages of student housing.
The government is also considering utilizing military sites to accommodate migrants. Legal challenges have not deterred officials from relocating migrants to former military sites like Wethersfield in Essex. RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire is expected to start receiving migrants next month.
Recently, the number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats since 2018 exceeded 100,000, with a record 755 arrivals on Thursday alone.
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