UK: Strong Local Opposition to Plan for Asylum Seeker Housing in Lowestoft

A plan to convert a house in the Kirkley Conservation Area, Lowestoft, into housing for asylum seekers is encountering significant opposition, receiving 160 objections within just four days. The proposal seeks to transform the nine-room house into a multi-occupancy residence for asylum seekers.

The house, located at the corner of South London Road and Rectory Road, is intended to accommodate sixteen asylum seekers. However, the proposal has not yet received approval from Lowestoft’s housing authority. Serco Ltd, the company expected to manage the residence, submitted the plan to East Suffolk Council earlier this month.

The proposal has ignited controversy in the local community, which largely opposes the plan. Numerous objections from residents highlight concerns about potential crime resulting from the concentration of asylum seeker housing units in the area, as well as the property’s closeness to two primary schools and childcare facilities.

In 2024, the area had already rejected three proposals from property management companies to convert a house on London Road in Kirkley into asylum seeker accommodation.

The current plan involves changing the property’s use from residential housing to a multi-occupancy home with 16 bedrooms, which requires approval from East Suffolk Council. The planning application submitted by urban planning experts states, “Serco Ltd will manage the property once it is ready for occupancy.” Serco has been contracted by the UK Visas and Immigration agency to provide housing for at-risk asylum seekers.

According to a city planning report, internal modifications will be made to the three-story house to create 16 living spaces, ensuring that these changes do not impact the comfort of neighboring residents or alter the area’s character and appearance.

A local property owner near the house is urging planners to reject the modification request due to concerns about community safety. In response, the individual who submitted the housing conversion plan has suggested purchasing properties in Chelmsford instead, arguing that this alternative would better serve the local community.

 

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