Wethersfield: community update newsletter
Updated 28 March 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-accommodation-wethersfield/wethersfield-community-update-newsletter
Key information to update the local community about Wethersfield asylum accommodation centre.
This is an update with input from some of the key partners that feed into the Multi Agency Forum (MAF), which supports operational planning of the asylum accommodation in Wethersfield.
The MAF consists of representatives from the Home Office, Braintree District Council, Essex Police, Mid and South Essex NHS, Essex Fire & Rescue, East of England Strategic Migration Partnerships and the site operator, Clearsprings Ready Homes.
This newsletter has been developed to help provide you, the local community, with relevant site updates and future developments, answers to questions you may have and provide reassurance to your concerns.
Please share the following information with your networks.
Site update
A number of the onsite residents are observing Ramadan. The site is much quieter during the day, and evening meal times have been extended, as well as provision for additional meal times and breaking fast snacks, including dates and yoghurts. Faith leaders continue to visit the site to support other faith groups, a service for Palm Sunday being well attended recently.
A new gardening club is underway and new planters will be installed shortly so any green fingered site residents can take part in planting and caring for the garden area.
The first groups of residents have begun to be moved to other accommodation, in line with the agreed time period asylum seekers can stay on site. More site residents will be moved to alternative accommodation over the coming months.
Special development order
Planning permission was granted to extend the use of Wethersfield site for a further three years under a special development order (SDO) on 21 March 2024. An SDO is a form of secondary legislation made by laying a statutory instrument in Parliament. In line with Parliamentary convention, the order will come into effect 21 days later.
The extended planning permission is for the temporary use of the site for a further three-year period, with up to six months decommissioning following.
The purpose of the SDO is to enable the government to secure consent to continue using the site as asylum accommodation once the original Class Q powers expire. This ensures that the government can continue to fulfil its statutory duties to accommodate asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute.
The Home Office remains committed to working with key stakeholders to facilitate the vision for the site.
Braintree District Council has published a statement on the plans.
Occupancy cap at Wethersfield site
A review of the occupancy capacity at Wethersfield has taken place.
This has taken into account the lessons learned as the number of residents has increased and followed feedback and concerns of the local community. Following this review, the Home Office has made a decision to cap the regular occupancy to a maximum of 800 asylum seekers (down from 1700). This means that during normal operation of the site, the population will not exceed 800.
If capacity is required to deal with higher than forecast small boat arrivals, a decision may be taken to utilise an additional 445 bedspaces for short and defined periods of time. If this is the case, there will be a detailed schedule of activity to return the site to a maximum population of 800 as soon as possible. MAF partners and other statutory bodies have been informed of the occupancy cap to enable operational site planning.
The occupancy cap allows the Home Office, and the site operator, to maintain absolute focus on service delivery and to run Wethersfield in a safe and orderly manner, while minimising any impact to the local community.
Although the SDO allows 1,700 residents on site this was because the proposal required submission before the decision on capacity was made. The Home Office will be working to the 800 capacity level during the normal operation of the site.
Voluntary and community activity funding
To support the immediate needs of the on-site residents, and in the interest of supporting a self-sufficient site, Braintree District Council (BDC) released the initial pilot grant for discretionary activities at Wethersfield site from the funding provided to the council by the Home Office. Applications were submitted by the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCS) sector for funding for additional recreational / educational activities on-site. Approval for funding of these activities is currently underway.
BDC is working to make further funding available through a community impact grant to be launched over the coming months.
Current activity on the site includes: conversational English and tea and cake sessions led by local volunteers, Sunday Mass and Jummah Prayers led by local religious leaders, and sports tournaments. Conversations are underway to progress further provision from local volunteers; access to English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), cricket, and running.
Additional educational opportunities are also being explored, for example maths / budgeting classes, which will provide residents with skills to support them in the UK when their asylum application is approved.
National Audit Office report
The National Audit Office (NAO) has published its report about the Home Office’s plans for asylum accommodation, including the actions to reduce the use of hotels and the costs to the taxpayer.
Despite the need to stand up large sites at speed, controls were in place to assure value for money for the taxpayer. Operational challenges at the sites have changed costs since original estimates but the Home Office continues to keep costs under review while developing ways to reduce it.
It is better value for money for the taxpayer to continue with these sites than to continue using hotels.
Local community impact
Further information about the Wethersfield asylum accommodation can be found on the factsheet: Wethersfield: factsheet.
Our support provider
The service provider, Clearsprings Ready Homes, is running the site on behalf of the Home Office and they are responsible for the safeguarding of asylum seekers.
Our service provider is experienced in managing asylum seeker accommodation in and orderly and secure manner.
Previous versions
You can find previous versions of GOV.UK asylum accommodation pages on the National Archives website.
Contact
We understand the community may have various questions and concerns relating to these plans. We endeavour to keep you updated however, if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us:
Home Office
Direct Communications Unit
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Email: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7035 4848