Shabana Mahmood has banned migrants from being housed in new-build homes after it emerged 83 asylum seekers were being moved into properties worth £250,000.
Shropshire’s Stoke Heath development had been dubbed “MIgrant Street” after 21 smart new-build homes had been earmarked for asylum seekers.
Outraged locals last night fumed about being lied to about the plans and vowed to fight against the scheme.
However, the Home Office tonight told GB News that new processes introduced earlier this year would stop new-build sites being considered.
A Home Office spokesman told The People’s Channel: “New houses should never house asylum seekers.
“Earlier this year, the Home Secretary introduced robust processes to ensure new-build sites like Stoke Heath can never be considered again.”
GB News understands that the Stoke Heath development pre-dated the new processes introduced by Ms Mahmood earlier this year.
Ms Mahmood’s measures clarified the criteria for sites considered via this process, specifically drawing out factors which are known to exacerbate focus on sites or potentially increase social tensions
However, the Home Office’s statement appeared to take a swipe at Ms Mahmood’s predecessors, including fellow Labour Cabinet Minister Yvette Cooper.
Ms Cooper, who is considered a long shot for the Labour leadership, served as Home Secretary from July 2024 to September 2025.
She also negotiated the UK’s “one-in, one-out” deal with France.
The Home Office’s statement to GB News also came after residents in Stoke Heath alleged one migrant family had already moved into one of the properties.
Shropshire Council subsequently wrote to the Home Secretary to “raise our strong concerns about this location and are awaiting a response before considering any further action”.