Government Ends Bibby Stockholm Asylum Accommodation Plan

The controversial barge housing asylum seekers is being decommissioned after setbacks, protests, and financial concerns.

The last eight asylum seekers have been relocated from the Bibby Stockholm, a barge used to house migrants in Portland, Dorset.
The UK government will not renew the barge’s contract, citing high costs and operational challenges, including fire and health risks.
Critics, including Labour MPs, labeled the barge a failed and costly project, while some asylum seekers described it as prison-like.
The Bibby Stockholm faced significant setbacks, including a bacterial outbreak and the tragic death of a resident, which is under investigation.
Relocation of residents to alternative accommodations is part of broader efforts to reform asylum housing and reduce reliance on hotels.