Bibby Stockholm: Resident loses High Court fight over Portland migrant barge

The migrants were removed from the barge after Legionella bacteria was found in the on-board water system

There will not be a judicial review into the Home Office's use of a barge to house asylum seekers.

Carralyn Parkes, from the Isle of Portland, brought the challenge against Home Secretary Suella Braverman's department after it docked the Bibby Stockholm in Portland Port.

But Mr Justice Holgate ruled against Mrs Parkes after considering arguments at a High Court hearing.

She raised more than £25,000 via crowdfunding for the costs of the case.

Thirty-nine men were moved onto the vessel in August but were later removed when the Legionella bacteria, which can cause serious illness, was detected.

The Home Office has since confirmed it has notified the men they are to be moved back.

The three-storey Bibby Stockholm is berthed at the port in Dorset, and is intended to hold about 500 men while they await the outcome of their asylum applications.

The barge is a flagship part of the government's plan to cut the cost of housing asylum seekers and deter dangerous Channel crossings by migrants.

There has been considerable local opposition to the barge coming to Portland

Ms Parkes is also the Mayor of Portland but said she was acting in a personal capacity as a local resident.

Her lawyer Alex Goodman KC said the housing of asylum seekers on the barge was a "breach of planning control" and there had not been "compliance" with environmental impact assessment duties.

He also said "segregating non-British people" raised links to "racial segregation".

Paul Brown KC, leading Home Secretary Suella Braverman's legal team, said Ms Parkes' claim was "out of time" and "without merit".

Government lawyers also said the local planning authority did not think planning permission was required.

There was also no "general principle" that housing "non-British asylum seekers" together on a vessel was unlawful under a public sector equality duty, they added.

In a statement released before the hearing, Ms Parkes said: "If you or I want to put up a porch at our home, we need to apply for planning permission.

"It's wrong that the Home Office does what it likes without complying with the same rules.

"If the Home Office had applied for planning permission, they would have had to consult with local people - but we never got the right to have our say.

"I believe that planning permission would have been refused."

She added: "I think containing people on the barge is an inhumane way to treat those fleeing from war, conflict or persecution. Together I hope we can hold the government to account."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Delivering accommodation sites such as the Bibby Stockholm will be more affordable for taxpayers, helping to reduce the £8m daily cost of hotels as well as being more manageable for local communities.

"We're confident that the project, which will house asylum seekers in safe and secure accommodation, meets the planning requirements"

The 222-room barge, chartered by the government for 18 months, arrived at the port in July.

It was previously used to accommodate homeless people and asylum seekers in Germany and the Netherlands.

Residents in Portland have objected to the barge, voicing concerns that the local community was not consulted.