ASYLUM seekers should never be housed in new-build homes, the Home Office has said.
It comes after plans to house more than 80 people at a new development in Shropshire were met with opposition from residents.
Serco, which is contracted by the UK Government to house asylum seekers, said it had acquired the homes while working under the direction of the Home Office.
But the department has said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has introduced "robust processes to ensure new-build sites like Stoke Heath can never be considered again".
Protesters have reportedly descended on the Stoke Heath site from elsewhere in the UK since the plan was announced.
A public meeting is being held this week where people will be asked for ID to prove they live in the area.
Ministers have ruled out new-build properties, homes that could be perceived as luxurious and locations close to sensitive sites like schools and nurseries for asylum accommodation sites.
A long-term strategy is being developed which will look at using disused buildings and ex-military sites instead.
Shropshire Council said leaders had expressed "strong opposition" to the choice of location and had written to the Home Office.
Conservative MP Mark Pritchard raised the issue in the Commons last month. He has branded the village a “completely inappropriate location” for asylum seeker accommodation.
It is understood that the new measures do not apply to the Stoke Heath development, as it was already underway when the change in rules was made.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "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."
It comes after it was announced that members of the public will be trained to decide asylum appeals instead of immigration judges under reforms to speed up outcomes.
This has been branded a "reckless gamble with human lives" by migrant rights charity Praxis.
Asylum seekers are also set to be forced to pay up to £10,000 towards the cost of their accommodation and support when they start earning.
They must pay off the full amount before they can be eligible for settled status under the plans.
Eligible adults will likely pay off an amount each month above a set threshold – similar to a student loan.
The plans have been described as “performative cruelty” by human rights groups.
