'We will be asking the court to declare that planning permission is required, and that the home secretary must follow the relevant procedures.'

'The home secretary's plans have caused widespread concern in our client's local community, and have deprived the council of its ability to exert relevant planning control. Her solicitors, Deighton Pierce Glynn, said: 'The home secretary is circumventing planning permission procedures to use the Bibby Stockholm barge to accommodate vulnerable asylum seekers in conditions which are clearly inadequate.

Local mayor Carralyn Parkes is fighting against this on the grounds the government didn't obtain the necessary planning permission, according to her solicitors.ĭorset Council has said it considered planning permission was not needed for the barge because it lies below the mean low water mark.īut Ms Parkes argues it is within the jurisdiction of the local planning authority. The Home Office is planning to house over 500 asylum seekers on the barge in Portland Harbour, Dorset. The mayor of Portland is set to challenge the home secretary over the government's use of the Bibby Stockholm barge to accommodate asylum seekers.

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