Government plans to move asylum seekers into a new housing estate in a Shropshire village have been put on hold following pressure from local residents and politicians.
The proposal to house migrants on a new-build development in Stoke Heath sparked anger after locals argued the homes should instead be made available to people from the area.
The Express understands plans to relocate further asylum seekers to the estate over the coming days have now been paused while ministers review the scheme.
The proposal first came to light in June when Conservative MP Mark Pritchard raised the issue in the House of Commons.
Mr Pritchard, who represents The Wrekin, said the Government had informed him the plans were now under ministerial review.
The Stoke Heath development reportedly predates new Home Office guidance introduced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood advising against housing asylum seekers in new-build properties where doing so could increase community tensions.
The Express reported reported on Tuesday that residents had discovered 21 properties on the development had been acquired by outsourcing company Serco for use as asylum accommodation.
Speaking to GB News, Mr Pritchard said: "As a result of my pressure and the pressure of the local parish council and credit to them and local residents, is that the current arrangements that will allow more asylum seekers over the next few days has been put on hold.
"The asylum seekers that were already in place have now been relocated, so currently there are no asylum seekers in Stoke Heath and the Government have told me tonight if they are to be believed.
"A senior Home Office official and there's no reason why I should not believe them, is that this scheme is being reviewed by Home Office ministers."
Labour has pledged to end the use of asylum hotels before the next General Election, instead accommodating asylum seekers in the community and at former military sites.
Earlier this week, the Home Office also announced that asylum seekers who begin earning while their claims are being processed will be required to contribute up to £10,000 towards the cost of their accommodation and support.
Separate Home Office figures show the number of migrants arriving after crossing the English Channel fell significantly during the first half of the year.
A total of 11,884 people made the crossing between January and the end of June.
That was 41 per cent lower than the 19,982 recorded during the same period in 2025 and 12 per cent below the 13,489 arrivals recorded in the first six months of 2024.
In April, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood agreed a three-year £662million deal with France to fund beach patrols aimed at reducing Channel crossings.
She is also seeking to overhaul the asylum system through reforms intended to deter illegal crossings and make it easier to remove people with no right to remain, including proposals to make refugee status temporary.
On Wednesday, the National Crime Agency said boats destined for people-smuggling gangs operating across the Channel had been seized at the Bulgarian border as part of efforts to disrupt the criminal supply chain.
