High Court grants permission for Judicial Review in legal challenge to long term use of Napier Barracks

The High Court has granted permission for a judicial review to proceed to a full hearing challenging the Home Office’s decision, without consultation, to continue using Napier Barracks as asylum accommodation for a further five years. The Claimant is a local resident and a lead volunteer helping asylum seekers who are housed at Napier Barracks. The Claimant is seeking to challenge the Home Secretary’s unilateral decision to extend her use of Napier Barracks near Folkestone in Kent for a further 5 years. She did so using emergency planning powers that avoided planning law controls and consultation with affected local people. The High Court has granted permission for the claim to proceed to a full hearing on all grounds and the case will now receive fuller consideration at an expedited hearing to be heard on 29-30 March. Alex Goodman, Alex Shattock and Charles Bishop appeared for the Claimant, instructed by Daniel Carey, Emily Soothill, and Olivia Duffield of Deighton Pierce Glynn.