The Planning Inspectorate has ordered a public inquiry into government plans to reopen and vastly expand the Haslar Immigration Removal Centre in Gosport, Hampshire, as a 600-bed detention facility for men. The move follows sustained local opposition, with residents saying the Home Office used a "Crown Development" process to bypass normal council planning routes, denying them the usual chance to object, and that nearby homeowners have seen property values fall by up to £25,000 amid fears they could become "trapped" in unsellable homes.

Haslar closed in 2015 but is due to reopen in 2027, initially with 130 beds before a second phase adds a further 470, taking capacity to 600 beds with around 450 staff — close to Europe's largest facility, Harmondsworth near Heathrow, which holds 676. Residents cite two years of disruptive construction, concerns that three-storey blocks will overlook their gardens, and criticism from Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage, who accused the Home Office of avoiding engagement with locals; the Inspectorate said the inquiry, involving formal cross-examination, was needed given the "considerable local interest" and complexity of the issues raised.