Final decision made on plans to house almost 500 asylum seekers in former student halls

However, last year Stafford Borough Council threw out the plans which were brought forward by Serco, which manages housing for the Home Office.

Soon after the scheme was thrown out, the Planning Inspectorate upheld an appeal by Serco and granted planning permission for the Home Office scheme until the end of July 2029, bringing the issue right back to the forefront of the local's minds.

At the time, the plan to use the site as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers was met with widespread opposition from the community, local councillors and Stafford's MP.

They cited fear of crime, social inclusion and strain on public health resources as the main reasons for opposing the scheme.

But yesterday it was confirmed by Stafford MP Leigh Ingham that the Home Office is 'no longer' progressing with the procurement of the site, and site owners The Beaconside Group has 'indicated' it will be looking to build apartments in its place instead.

Leigh Ingham MP, said: "During the General Election, it was clear that the proposed development at Beaconside for asylum seekers awaiting claims decisions was a concern to many residents.

"Since then, I have met with Leadership of Stafford Borough Council to convey these concerns in addition to speaking to the new Minister of Immigration Angela Eagle.

"Following those conversations, I can confirm that the Home Office is no longer progressing the procurement of this site. The site owners, The Beaconside Group, have indicated that instead they will be looking to build apartments at the site, though Stafford Borough Council are yet to receive a planning application.

"I welcome this decision, which brings clarity to local residents and the wider community. Stafford has always been kind and generous to people most in need and will continue to be so, ensuring sites meet the needs of those requiring accommodation while also considering the needs of residents and community infrastructure."

A Home Office spokesperson said:“The Home Office continually reviews the appropriateness of different sites for use as asylum accommodation.

“We remain committed to engaging with local authorities and key stakeholders as part of this process.”

A Stafford Borough Council spokesperson said: "We have now received notification from the home office that Serco have withdrawn their proposals for the use of the Beaconside site as a centre for asylum seekers.”