Plans to turn university halls into 270-bed asylum centre abandoned after huge backlash

Controversial plans to change an old student accommodation building into a large-scale asylum dispersal centre have been stopped as the university has withdrawn its application.

An application by the University of Debry to change the use of High Peak Halls, in Buxton, to a proposed occupation of non-self-contained residential accommodation (bedsits) by non-students was submitted to the local authority. The application made no reference to housing asylum seekers, but the university confirmed that it had decided to apply to make the space "provide short-term accommodation for vulnerable people coming to the UK as refugees," reported Derbyshire Live.

But the High Peak Borough Council Development Control Committee, due to take place on Monday (August 7), has been cancelled after the University of Derby withdrew its application for a Certificate of Lawful Development to use High Peak Halls as an asylum seekers dispersal centre.

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The council was 'only told by the applicant that they were withdrawing the application this morning', said its spokesperson on Monday. The application had already been recommended for refusal if the meeting had taken place.

High Peak Halls is a multi-storey building with 274 rooms, all with ensuite shower rooms, set up as flats with shared kitchens and dining areas, and has been empty since 2019. If it had been successful, the application would have seen the Bridge Street site house up to 270 asylum seekers.

The proposal had stoked fiery reactions from locals, attracting 1,400 objections compared to just 14 comments of support on the public application, reported Derbyshire Live.

Council leader,