Months of uncertainty over the future of Cameron Barracks appear to have come to an end, with Highland Council welcoming what it says is a decision that will provide long awaited clarity for local communities.
The council has issued a joint statement following confirmation that plans to use the Inverness barracks to accommodate up to 300 single adult male asylum seekers have been dropped.
The proposal, first announced last year, prompted widespread debate across the Highlands, with concerns raised over the suitability of the site, the impact on local services and the lack of engagement with the local authority and community.
While the council says it is still awaiting formal written confirmation from the Home Office, it believes the decision marks the end of a prolonged period of uncertainty for residents and partner organisations.
In a joint statement, Highland Council Convenor Bill Lobban, Council Leader Raymond Bremner and Opposition Leader Alasdair Christie said:
“From the outset, The Highland Council has sought to engage constructively with the Home Office, both to understand the implications for local services and communities and to provide advice and guidance on the HMO requirements that would apply to Cameron Barracks if it were to be used to accommodate single adult males.
“In discussions, the Council made it clear the Home Office would have to comply with relevant legislation in Scotland.
“At no point was an HMO licence application received.
“Despite our repeated requests, plans were not provided, questions were not answered, and communication from the Home Office was limited.
“This has created prolonged uncertainty for local agencies and communities.
“While we still await official written confirmation, we welcome the fact that a decision looks like it has been reached, providing much needed clarity for local communities.
“The Highlands has a strong record of welcoming and supporting asylum seekers and refugees, however, Cameron Barracks was not a suitable site for the scale of the proposal under consideration.”
The council’s statement follows months of discussions with the Home Office during which it consistently maintained that any proposal to use the barracks in this way would require compliance with Scottish legislation, including the need for a House in Multiple Occupation licence.
The decision brings an end to one of the Highlands’ most closely watched planning and community issues, with the future of the former military site now expected to be considered through other means.
