Plans to host asylum seekers in new homes 'on hold'

Plans to host 83 asylum seekers in a new-build estate in rural Shropshire have been put on hold, the local MP has said.

Just over 100 residents from the area around Stoke Heath met on Thursday night, and some of them told the BBC they felt incredibly frustrated - a decision by Serco and the home office not to attend only fuelled that anger.

Mark Pritchard, Conservative MP for the Wrekin, first highlighted the proposals in the House of Commons in June, but local opposition has grown since more details have come to light.

He said the government scheme had now been put on hold while the suitability of the location was reviewed.

One family that had moved into a new property has since been relocated from the small community near Market Drayton.

Earlier in the week, Serco, which is contracted by the government to house asylum seekers, said it had acquired the homes while working under the direction of the Home Office.

The government told the BBC that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had introduced "robust processes to ensure new-build sites like Stoke Heath can never be considered again".

The development had been identified before the new guidance was brought in, it added.

Residents had said the new estate had been built because of local need for housing, while the parish council said it had highlighted the "complete unsuitability" of the area for asylum seekers.

Critics have cited a lack of local infrastructure, including shops, public transport and even basic amenities.

News that asylum seekers would be housed on the new estate have attracted protesters from across the country, and measures were taken on Thursday night to ensure only those from the local area could attend.

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.