Renfrewshire councillors reject plans for immigration holding facility

immigration detention centrePlans to create an immigration holding facility near Glasgow Airport have been rejected by Renfrewshire Council due to the building’s location.

Members of the council’s planning and property policy board unanimously refused a planning application to establish a facility with 20 bedrooms and ancillary accommodation to be used by the Home Office as a short-term immigration holding facility.

Planning officers had recommended the proposed facility in Abbotsinch Road be granted approval with conditions.

Councillor Terry Kelly, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s planning and property policy board, said: “Members were unanimously of the view that the proposed facility would be contrary to the Adopted Renfrewshire Local Development Plan.



“There was clear concern it would be detrimental to the economic development of the Glasgow Airport Investment Area - one of the key economic drivers for the city region.

“Members agreed that there was no established identifiable functional link between the proposal and Glasgow Airport’s operations.

“The proposed facility’s location in a commercial and industrial area would also introduce an inappropriate use through the attendant noise, activity and disturbance.”

The Home Office, which had earmarked the development to replace the Dungavel facility in South Lanarkshire, said it was “disappointed” by the decision.


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