Ex-care home to house unaccompanied asylum children

The county council has a legal responsibility to house unaccompanied children who arrive in small boats

A former care home has been designated as a site for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UAS).

Kent County Council (KCC), which has a legal obligation to care for young people arriving in the UK by small boats, has identified Connors House in Craddock Road, Canterbury, as the latest building to accommodate them.

A two-page letter was posted through the letterboxes of nearby residents on Wednesday, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The letter said it was "regrettable" the council could not fully consult with local people, but the number of arrivals meant that was impossible.

The facility will be staffed 24 hours a day all year round and is designed for a maximum 10-day stay before the children are moved to other parts of the country.

In 2023 the High Court ruled KCC has an obligation to look after all lone migrant children arriving in the county.

The council successfully argued the national transfer scheme (NTS), which compels other local authorities to take in their share of young asylum seekers, had to work properly.

The numbers have put a huge strain on KCC and mean sites like Connors House are being converted.

'Not possible to consult'

The letter said: “It is regrettable KCC was unable to share plans for Connors House before now.

“The necessity to comply with the court ruling and accommodate all UAS children who continue to arrive in Kent, means it is not possible to consult with residents in ways it would normally and prefer to do.

“UAS children are extremely appreciative of the accommodation and support they receive from KCC and are eager to learn about, integrate and contribute to UK society.”

KCC took in 1,165 UAS children between January and June this year, an 87% increase on 624 in the same period last year.

KCC needs nine such reception centres and has so far publicly identified eight but only two are operational at the moment.

New capacity at other centres will not become available until September at the earliest.