An office block in a town centre could be turned into accommodation for people seeking asylum.

Anchorage House, formerly Medway's County and Family Court, in Chatham High Street, is being considered for use by the Home Office.

Medway Council is aware of the government department's proposal to use the 11-storey building instead of running up controversial and expensive hotel bills.

Kelly Tolhurst, MP for Rochester and Strood, has said it is a "totally inappropriate location" for the plan.

She said: “The Home Office has confirmed that Anchorage House has been put forward by their contractors Clearsprings as a potential site to utilise for housing asylum seekers.

"I have made it clear to Home Office officials and the Immigration Minister that I object to this site being used for that purpose, the site is not suitable and it is a totally inappropriate location.

"A decision on whether to use the site has not yet been made by the Home Office, the leader of the council Cllr Alan Jarrett and I are strongly opposing it and are working together with other agencies to provide the evidence to prove that the site is not appropriate and should not be used.

"I know residents will be concerned, that is why next week I will be meeting with the Prime Minister to make sure that the evidence and our views are taken into account, and the Home Office should seek more appropriate locations to accommodate asylum seekers”

A Home Office spokesman said it did not comment on operational arrangements for individual sites.

She said: “The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under incredible strain.

“The use of hotels to house asylum seekers is unacceptable – there are currently more than 37,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £5.6 million a day.

“The use of hotels is a temporary solution and we are working hard with local authorities to find appropriate accommodation."

"There are currently more than 37,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £5.6m a day. The cost of accommodating Afghans in bridging hotels is £1.2m a day..."

In July 2020, developer Cannon Capital Developments submitted plans for 81 flats, comprising studio, one and two-bedroom apartments.

The company used the Permitted Development Rights system for change of use, which meant it did not need to go through the normal local planning process.

The latest plan for it to house asylum seekers comes after the immigration processing centre at Manston was hit with a series of issues surrounding overcrowding, "inhumane" conditions and disease, including diphtheria.

All people being held at the detention site were moved to new accommodation, reported The Guardian, with the government believed to have bought space in hotels.

A statement from the Home Office read: "There are currently more than 37,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £5.6m a day. The cost of accommodating Afghans in bridging hotels is £1.2m a day.

"We engage with local authorities as early as possible whenever sites are used for asylum accommodation and work to ensure arrangements are safe for hotel residents and local people.

"We continue to ensure the accommodation provided is safe, secure, leaves no one destitute and is appropriate for an individual’s needs.

"Hotels are a short-term solution to the global migration crisis and we are working hard to find appropriate dispersed accommodation for migrants, asylum seekers and Afghan refugees as soon as possible.

"We would urge local authorities to do all they can to help house people permanently."

The court moved out last summer and plans to relocate to the council's headquarters at Gun Wharf in Chatham after refurbishment.

For an interim period, court hearings have been held at the Holiday Inn near Rochester Airport before the move is complete.

Council bosses previously said that since lockdown – with 75% of staff home working – the cost of running the riverside offices was not financially viable.

Leader Cllr Jarrett (Con) previously expressed an interest to rent out part of the 1970s' Grade II-listed building in Dock Road to claw back cash.

It costs £2m a year to maintain with the heating bill alone running to £1.1m because it is not energy efficient.

Portfolio holder for resources, Cllr Adrian Gulvin, said: “We worked very hard to ensure the court remained in Medway, so residents did not have to travel to other courts across the county.

"We are currently working with HM Courts and Tribunals Service to enable the necessary building works to take place over the next 18 months.”

Cllr Jarrett has stressed the authority's HQ will remain in Chatham, where it is committed to a multi-million pound regeneration of the town centre.

Last July, HM Courts and Tribunals Services confirmed the lease for the court had expired and the landlord had opted to redevelop the site.

Delivery director for the south east region, Lorraine Tedeschini, said: "Establishing Gun Wharf as Medway County and Family Court in the longer term means concerns regarding ease of travel are resolved by using a location close to the current court."

The decision followed a consultation last year where the service initially proposed most work be permanently relocated to Maidstone Combined Court.

It said, however, it became clear from the survey that people overwhelmingly wanted to retain the court in Medway.

Medway County Court is the designated family court for Kent with seven courtrooms, five judges and 32 administration staff at Anchorage House.

Gun Wharf was built as an administrative headquarters for Lloyd's of London and was bought by the council in 2006 when the authority moved from an old factory premises on the Esplanade, Strood.