Opposition councillors in Fareham have urged the council to buy a block of flats that was set to be used to house asylum seekers.

The Liberal Democrats want Fareham Borough Council to use Wates House for affordable housing. The authority has previously said this would be too expensive.

It comes after the Home Office abandoned plans to use the 27-flat building to house asylum seekers.

Lib Dem group leader, Councillor David Hamilton, will present a motion to the full council on April 17, calling for the purchase of the building, which consists of one- and two-bedroom homes.

READ MORE: Plan to use Wates House, Fareham for asylum seekers scrapped

Cllr Hamilton said: "We’re glad the Home Office has dropped its plans to house asylum seekers in Wates House.

"We said from the start it wasn’t the right location.

"Now we have a second chance to do something better — help local people who need homes."

Fareham Borough Council has previously said it would not buy the building, saying it must use its limited housing budget elsewhere.

The council had set out to buy the building in 2024 but withdrew based on a surveyor's report that the council said ruled the building was "not currently safe to occupy".

The council said it would only be suited for a small number of small households, adding it lacked the funds.

READ MORE: Campaigners protest migrant plans for Fareham flat block

However, the Lib Dems say the average wait time for a one- or two-bedroom property is now more than 20 months, and that Wates House is a ready-made solution that can be funded through long-term borrowing, repaid over time through rent.

The motion also calls for a comprehensive survey of Wates House to ensure it is in good condition before purchase.

The Home Office recently decided not to proceed with its proposal to procure Wates House to accommodate asylum seekers, following concerns from the council, police, and local MP about community safety, cohesion, and increased pressure on services.

Use of the site to house asylum seekers was opposed by the borough council, which says its efforts "in the background" led to the plan being scrapped.