CONTROVERSIAL plans that would more than double the number of detainees at a Kidlington immigration centre should be approved, a council planning officer has said.

Cherwell District Council's Paul Ihringer has urged members of its planning committee to approve the Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre proposals next week.

The Home Office and Ministry of Justice wants to build two accommodation blocks and a kitchen, dining, worship and health facilities block, increasing detainees from 276 to 566.

The Home Office said the move is needed to meet expected growth in detainees, including criminals, in its 5,000-bed estate.

As the 1993 building is in the Green Belt, the applicants need to show "very special circumstances" for its to be approved on Thursday [19/2] But 67 letters opposed the plan with concerns including the impact on the environment, roads and noise and light pollution and lack of need for more places.

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Mr Ihringer's report said: "Many of the objectors to this proposal are opposed to any expansion of the immigration detention system on the grounds that as the detainees have not committed a criminal offence it is ethically and morally unacceptable to incarcerate them. "Whilst some members may sympathise with this viewpoint, the legitimacy of removing foreign nationals by this process is not a material planning consideration."

Planning staff are "satisfied" how the Home Office concluded no other sites are available, he said, and it should be approved if councillors believe it would be better than using prisons.

The committee will meet at the council's White Post Road, Bodicote offices from 4pm. The public can attend.