Home Office minister Angela Eagle (Image: Getty)
Disused tower blocks and old student accommodation in towns and cities may being converted into migrant housing, sparking fresh alarm among local communities. Opponents of the move, confirmed by Government ministers amid rising immigration pressures, claim it risks worsening strains on public services and damaging treasured urban environments.
The repurposing of these ageing residential buildings has become a key part of the Government’s short-term asylum accommodation strategy, but critics say it is a stopgap measure with serious consequences. Dame Angela Eagle, Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum, defended the policy during her appearance before the Home Affairs Committee on Tuesday. She said repurposing vacant residential buildings – including ageing tower blocks in university towns – was a necessary response to mounting pressure on the asylum system and soaring accommodation costs.
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Tower blocks could be used to house asylum seekers in future [FILE PIC] (Image: Getty)
She stressed: “We have a responsibility to offer safety to those fleeing persecution and hardship. But that responsibility must be met without sacrificing the wellbeing of our students, our historic cities, and the communities that call them home.”
Her comments come amid growing concern over the backlog in the asylum system, which has surged due to record numbers of small boat crossings and other arrivals.
The Home Office faces mounting pressure to find affordable accommodation for tens of thousands of asylum seekers currently housed in hotels or temporary facilities.
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However, many Express readers voiced deep frustration – not merely with building conversions, but with the broader immigration strategy the policy reflects.
More than 15,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel since the start of 2025 (Image: Getty)
One Express reader, ArthurHarrison, commenting on Tuesday, sarcastically suggested the Government is missing a straightforward alternative. He wrote: “There should be a big push for those that welcome refugees to accommodate them. They could rent their spare rooms to the Home Office at a fraction of what it is costing now. This would also help local councils who have limited resources and capacity.”
Another, stuartrennie, demanded better border control rather than accommodation fixes: “With our satellite observation and GCHQ intelligence please don’t tell me that the technology is not there to monitor illegal immigrants and people smugglers.
"If Ukraine can spot Russian soldiers on the ground then we must be able to spot a build up of boat people.”
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Meanwhile, bobgordon called for a complete overhaul of the asylum system: “There needs to be a whole army of people processing their claims, courts open 24/7, and planes waiting for departure on the runways.”
These views echo broader tensions in university towns grappling with student housing shortages.
Some local councils say they are being kept in the dark about which buildings are being converted and warn that a sudden influx of residents could overwhelm schools, GP practices, and public transport.
Council leaders express particular concern over the lack of transparency and planning in the roll-out of this policy. Many say they were not consulted before decisions were made, leaving them scrambling to manage the impact on already stretched local services.
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Heritage groups further warn that converting listed or historic buildings without careful planning risks irreversible damage to conservation areas, undermining the character of cherished city centres. Several conservationists have expressed alarm that rushed conversions could lead to the loss of architectural features and strain on fragile urban infrastructure.
A Home Office spokesperson described the policy as “pragmatic and cost-effective,” arguing that repurposing empty buildings is a short-term measure while permanent asylum infrastructure is developed. They insisted ministers are aware of local concerns and said efforts are underway to engage more closely with councils.
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Separately, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has committed to ending the use of hotels to house asylum seekers during this Parliament.
Unveiling her spending review in the Commons on Wednesday, Ms Reeves set out how funding will be provided to cut the asylum backlog and save taxpayers billions of pounds.
A total ￡200 million of transformation funding will be used to speed up the overhaul of the asylum system, documents show.
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