Concerns have been raised about the suitability of housing migrants at the Highfield House Hotel in Southampton, given its close proximity to several local schools and educational institutions.
The hotel, located in the Highfield area of the city, sits near a cluster of schools. Notably, Highfield Church of England Primary School is situated in the heart of the Highfield neighbourhood, just a short walk from the hotel.
The area is also home to the University of Southampton’s main Highfield Campus, the academic centre of one of the UK’s largest universities, making the neighbourhood a significant educational hub for all ages (Highfield CE Primary School, University of Southampton). This concentration of schools and the presence of thousands of students in the vicinity has prompted debate about whether the hotel should be used for temporary accommodation of asylum seekers or other vulnerable groups.
Local residents have expressed concerns about safeguarding and the need for appropriate measures to ensure the safety of children and young people attending nearby schools. The situation in Southampton draws parallels to recent legal action taken by Epping Forest District Council, which challenged the use of The Bell Hotel in Epping to house migrants near a concentration of schools. In court, Epping council’s legal representative argued that “having this sort of thing go on in such a concentration of schools with no measures in place to stop a repetition is not acceptable,” underlining their view that the proximity of hotels used for migrant accommodation to schools raises significant safeguarding issues.
While no direct incidents have been reported at the Highfield House Hotel, the situation echoes recent national controversies in which hotels used for housing migrants near schools have become flashpoints for community anxiety and legal action.
A concerned local parent said, “We’re concerned about our children at the school nearby and welfare of all the pupils and monitoring the situation.” Southampton City Council has yet to comment publicly on the matter. As the debate continues, local parents and school officials are calling for clear communication.
