Home Office drops city asylum seeker accommodation plans

Plans which could have seen up to 149 more asylum seekers housed in Aberdeen have been dropped.

Home Office officials told Aberdeen City Council last month that the asylum seekers could be accommodated on St Peter Street.

Aberdeen South MP Douglas Lumsden had said the move would take the city above its agreed allocation limit and called for an urgent review.

In a letter seen by BBC Scotland News, the Home Office has told the council it has decided not to proceed with the plans for the site.

The letter said the decision had been made "due to commercial and contractual reasons".

When approached separately by BBC Scotland News, the Home Office did not confirm the decision.

"We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, engaging with local authorities to reduce the impact on communities," a statement said, adding the UK government was closing every asylum hotel.

Conservative MP Lumsden said he welcomed the Home Office's decision.

"I'm glad common sense has now prevailed," he said.

"Placing large numbers of asylum seekers in the city centre without proper planning and consultation would have put additional pressure on local services."

Last year, Aberdeen City Council called for a meeting with the Home Secretary over the housing of asylum seekers.

It followed a number of protests outside hotels in the city.