The Home Office has confirmed that an army barracks in Kent that has been used to house asylum seekers has officially shut down.
Napier Barracks in Folkestone, a former military site, began accommodating migrants in 2020. Since then, it has faced sustained criticism over poor living conditions, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, when a major outbreak occurred among residents.
The site closed on Friday and is expected to be fully vacated by the end of the month before being handed back to the Ministry of Defence. The Home Office said the barracks will later be transferred to a property developer in March for housing development.
In a statement, the Home Office said it does not comment on individual asylum accommodation sites or specific operational arrangements, but reiterated the government’s commitment to ending the use of hotels for housing asylum seekers.
The Napier Barracks housed more than 300 asylum seekers, although fewer than 100 people were believed to be living there in the weeks leading up to its closure. The 130-year-old site had been the subject of multiple inspections since early 2021, with concerns repeatedly raised about overcrowding, sanitation and general welfare.
The charity Care4Calais, which supported residents at the site, confirmed it carried out its final clothing distribution on Sunday. A spokesperson said volunteers were never allowed inside the barracks and were forced to work outdoors in all weather conditions, describing the experience as challenging but driven by compassion and dignity.
Meanwhile, the government has previously indicated it is considering the use of other former military barracks in East Sussex and Scotland to accommodate asylum seekers, a move that continues to attract scrutiny from campaigners and local communities.
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