Asylum seekers could be housed in former student accommodation in Sheffield

Councillors will next week decide on plans to convert Regency House on St Mary's Road into overflow accommodation. The building used to house 75 students but has been empty since 2019.

Mears Ltd and Hencap Housing Properties have a contract with the Home Office to provide four to six week stays for asylum seekers when an existing facility in Wakefield is at capacity and while their applications are being considered.

In a report, planning officers say: "The facility will accommodate up to 105 residents including families, although numbers are likely to be less in the winter when there are fewer families and because residents will only be transferred when capacity is exceeded at Wakefield.

"The split is 20 per cent family rooms and 80 per cent individual rooms but it will be nearer a 50/50 split between families and individuals.

"Communal rooms, courtyard space, a teaching room, meeting rooms, offices and laundry will be provided. The site will be staffed 24 hours a day and there will be a resident welfare manager and a migrant help office with drop-in sessions.

"There will be permanent staff and transitory professionals and volunteers who will visit from. It is not expected that the development will impact significantly on social services - children will not register with schools and vulnerable migrants will not be housed at the Sheffield site.

"There will be a relationship with a local medical practice. Residents are not allowed to work and will receive a daily subsistence payment.

"Residents will have to sign in and out, there will be CCTV coverage of the communal areas and antisocial behaviour could impact on the claimant’s asylum application.

"Residents will not have access to vehicles and they will be transported to the site during working hours in small groups."

Letters were sent to 642 local residents and businesses but there were no objections.

Planners say: "The hostel will have similar characteristics to the student accommodation use and the management arrangements should ensure that it will not create significant amenity issues for local residents.

Councillors will decide at a meeting on Tuesday, February 23.

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