For several weeks, rumours and misinformation have been circulating locally suggesting that asylum seekers are to be housed in The Garve Hotel. This is inaccurate. Garve and District Community Council has been in regular contact with the hotel owners’ agent and the contractors on site, who have confirmed that the building is being prepared for renovation, a project requiring significant investment. The recent clearing of the hotel has been undertaken solely to allow this work to begin, with efforts now focused on making the structure secure and watertight in the short term. The flats within the annex are expected to be ready for use much sooner than the main building. On behalf of the owners and their agent, GDCC has also approached SSEN—who previously stated an intention to bring former Highland hotels back into use to accommodate their expanding workforce—but despite over a month elapsing since making initial contact and a follow-up last, we have been unable to obtain clarity on their plans or on the process for hotel owners wishing to express interest in such a scheme. 

For reference page 7 of SSEN's - Housing Our Worker Strategy 2024 
3.2.4 Refurbishing Disused Property
 SSEN  Transmission  could  contribute  to  community  revitalisation  and  address  the  need for worker 
accommodation by refurbishing disused buildings. This proposal outlines the potential for transforming 
buildings such as disused hotels, care homes, and other properties into quality living spaces for SSEN 
Transmission workers, and possibly in the future, the local community.

 

All decisions on housing asylum seekers, temporarily or otherwise are made by the Home Office. 

On 6 November 2025, The Highland Council held a special meeting to discuss the UK Home Office’s intention to use Cameron Barracks in Inverness to accommodate around 300 adult male asylum seekers for a period of 12 months. The proposal, first shared verbally with the Council on 10 October, has raised significant concern—principally due to the lack of consultation, the absence of key information, and the scale and location of what is being proposed.

During the meeting, Councillors debated the issue at length, reflecting the sensitivity and seriousness of the matter for both local residents and public agencies. At the close of proceedings, the Convener—who rarely offers such remarks—praised all members for the respectful and constructive way in which they handled the discussion.

The resulting vote saw 44 Councillors support the motion (calling for urgent clarity and raising concerns directly with the Home Secretary) without amendments, while 18 Councillors supported the amendments proposed in the report. No abstentions were recorded, and the motion was carried.

Listen to the full debate and all views shared 

Read the Highland Council's report on the Home Office Plan to Accommodate Asylum Seekers at Cameron Barracks 

In summary ...

According to the information shared with the Highland Council:

Approximately 300 single adult men seeking asylum are to be housed at Cameron Barracks, utilising the site’s 309 available bedspaces.
The accommodation would begin from mid-December 2025, with arrivals phased at around 60 people per week.
The premises would operate as a self-contained campus, with the Home Office promising:
Fully catered, shared accommodation
On-site healthcare access and welfare support
Multi-faith spaces
Indoor and outdoor recreational facilities
24/7 security
On-site education and activities
The individuals housed at the facility would not be detained, and would be free to come and go.

Importantly, asylum decisions will not be processed in Inverness. Those granted refugee status would later be moved to other parts of the UK.

 

The report makes clear that the Council has been shut out of decision-making entirely:

The Home Office informed Highland Council verbally, under strict confidentiality, and with almost no detail.
Written confirmation of the proposal only arrived on 27 October, two weeks after senior Councillors were first briefed in confidence.
On the same evening that written information finally arrived, the matter was released to the media—without any prior notification to the Council or local partners.
The Home Office has stated that Highland Council is not a delivery partner for the scheme, limiting the Council’s powers and involvement.
Key questions about implementation, local service impact, safeguarding, and community safety remain unanswered.
Despite requests, the Home Office has not provided its impact assessments, including those relating to equality, safety, and community cohesion.
Council officers, NHS Highland, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have all emphasised the need for timely information and additional resources to protect both local residents and the individuals housed at the barracks. So far, the level of detail provided has been insufficient.

 

Scale and location

The proposed number—300 adult men—is considered unprecedented for Highland, especially given:

The barracks’ close proximity to residential neighbourhoods
Nearby primary and secondary schools
The short 15-minute walk into Inverness City Centre
The Leader of the Council wrote directly to the Home Secretary on 23 October, stressing the “real fear and alarm” the proposal could cause in the surrounding community.

Risks to community cohesion

The report highlights well-documented challenges in other parts of the UK, including:

Protests and targeted actions at asylum accommodation
Misinformation, disinformation, and malicious online activity
Community tensions fuelled by a lack of clear communication
The Council stressed that while the Highlands has always been a welcoming area—with a strong record of supporting refugee resettlement—the situation here is wholly different. This is a temporary accommodation site, not a resettlement scheme, and Highland Council has no established role in managing or integrating those placed there.

Impact on local services

Although the Home Office insists the site will be self-contained, concerns remain about:

Additional demand on NHS services
Pressures on adult social care, mental health officers and justice services
The possibility that individuals claiming to be under 18 could trigger statutory duties for children’s services
Partners have repeatedly stressed that any additional strain must be fully funded and mitigated by the Home Office.

 

Following the Council vote on 6 November, the agreed actions are:

The Council Leader, Convener and Leader of the Opposition will write jointly to the Home Secretary, demanding urgent clarity and full detail on the implementation plan, including any assessments undertaken by the Home Office.
The Council and Community Planning Partners will continue to engage with the Home Office—pushing for regular, transparent communication and measures to protect local services and community safety.
Elected Members reaffirmed that Highland communities remain welcoming, but this proposal requires clear oversight, openness, and proper planning, none of which have been evident so far.


Listen to the full debate and all views shared 

Read the Highland Council's report on the Home Office Plan to Accommodate Asylum Seekers at Cameron Barracks