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Legal action targets new French migrant facility
A French environmental group has launched a court appeal that could delay the opening of a migrant detention centre near Dunkirk, jeopardising a £660 million UK-France agreement to curb Channel crossings.
UK funding tied to facility's operation
The UK government has pledged financial support for the centre but will only release funds from a £160 million pot once the facility is fully operational. The Home Office warned that funding could be withdrawn if the project fails to deliver results within its first year.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the agreement as a key step toward "restoring order and control to our borders" during its signing in France last month. The deal forms a central part of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's strategy to reduce the number of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats.
Construction continues amid legal uncertainty
The detention centre, designed to hold 140 people, is under construction and expected to open by the end of 2026. However, a lawsuit filed by the Flemish-Artois Coastal Environmental Defense Assembly (ADELFA) argues that the facility violates local planning regulations.
French legal experts told the BBC that while the appeal is unlikely to halt construction entirely, it could significantly delay the centre's opening. ADELFA's challenge was initially rejected last year, but the group filed an appeal in February at the Administrative Court of Lille.
Environmental and safety concerns raised
ADELFA's lawyers claim the site, located in an industrial zone, is unsuitable for residential use under local planning rules. They highlight risks posed by nearby facilities, including a warehouse using ammonia refrigeration, which they argue endangers occupants' health.
"Putting so many resources solely into repression, with ever more police, doesn't work. We need to find other solutions to prevent people from risking their lives at sea."
Nicolas Fournier, President of ADELFA
The lawsuit also alleges breaches of fire safety regulations and failure to publicly display the building permit as required by law.
Centre's role in UK-France migration strategy
The facility is intended to detain migrants intercepted on French beaches before deporting them to their home countries or other EU nations they transited through. The UK Home Office stated the centre would prioritise removals of migrants from the top 10 countries of origin for Channel crossings, including Eritrea, Afghanistan, and Syria.
A trial phase using existing capacity at a nearby removal centre in Coquelles began in May 2026. The new Dunkirk facility is expected to employ over 200 French officers.
Legal and political hurdles ahead
Francois Benchendikh, a public law lecturer at Sciences Po Lille, said the court's decision would hinge on whether the centre qualifies as residential accommodation. He noted that the presence of ammonia near the site could lead to the permit's annulment.
Urban planning lawyer Alice Darson added that while the centre may fall under "facilities of collective interest," failure to consult fire safety authorities could result in its demolition.
Dr Mihnea Cuibus, a researcher at The Migration Observatory, warned that scaling up removals from the centre faced significant barriers, calling its success a "potentially contentious issue" in UK-France relations.
