Understand
London council considers housing homeless families in Shropshire village that opposed asylum plans
Overview
Enfield Council is reportedly looking to rent properties on Dutton Close in the Shropshire village of Stoke Heath to house homeless families from London. The village previously fought off plans to house asylum seekers on the same estate due to local opposition. Shropshire Council and local MP Mark Pritchard have raised significant concerns, arguing that the rural, isolated location is unsuitable for families relocated from an urban area.
Key points
- Enfield Council is reportedly looking to rent properties on Dutton Close in Stoke Heath for homeless families on its social housing waiting list.
- Plans to house up to 83 asylum seekers in the same new-build homes were scrapped in July following local opposition and a Home Office intervention.
- Shropshire Council has written to Enfield Council to formally record its significant concerns about the proposals.
- Local MP Mark Pritchard has vowed to fight the plans, describing the rural location as isolated, poorly connected, and inappropriate.
- Shropshire Council stated that while it has no legal grounds to stop Enfield Council, it has strongly urged the authority not to proceed.