Plans which could see asylum seekers moved to “basic” military barracks in Scotland have been slammed by refugee charities.

Last week, the Labour Government announced it was to close all UK asylum hotels before the end of its parliamentary term. Eleven have shut their doors immediately and further closures are expected in the coming weeks.

The government says their proposals will lead to “faster asylum decisions, higher removals, and tougher enforcement,” but charities warn it will “trap people in poverty” and “retraumatise” vulnerable individuals.

Appearing on the initial list was Aberdeen’s Best Western Sure Hotel, one of two asylum hotels in the city. It’s now understood that those previously residing in the accommodation have been moved into student halls.

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As part of a UK-wide announcement, the Home Office plans to relocate people to military accommodation, like the controversial Crowborough site in Essex, which eventually could house as many as 500 people.

Closer to home, Cameron Barracks in Inverness, had been earmarked for asylum accommodation and was due to open in November last year, though as of this month, it remains unused. It is one of the locations which could be used when more Scottish hotels close.

Many charities who operate in cities have established their services around the hotel’s location, enabling residents to take part in community activities and access local support.

A representative of the Scottish Refugee Council (SRC) warns that moving people out of these areas could lead to increases in social alienation.

They said: “Alternatives like disused army barracks, which isolate people, trap them in poverty and create fear and division, would not be an appropriate solution for refugees or local communities

“People seeking safety should be housed within communities with good access to essential services, so they can make connections, be part of our communities and feel at home in Scotland.”

They also said that while moving people out of hotels was a positive thing, they firmly condemned a reduction in housing standards and added: “we strongly oppose any plans to downgrade living conditions, that are already basic, any further”.

Westminster’s decision to reduce accommodation standards is at odds with what many believe to be already poor living conditions.

There has been widespread documentation of issues in asylum accommodation including reports of overcrowding, inadequate facilities and safeguarding concerns.

Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais, one of the largest UK refugee charities, said that using hotels had never been about serving the needs of people seeking sanctuary, but instead was “a racket of profiteering off the backs of people who survived unimaginable horrors”.

He said: “Many of the hotels that Care4Calais have supported people in have been damp, mouldy and dilapidated. The very worst have not been fit for human habitation.

“However, as some hotels close, we need a complete reset. People seeking sanctuary should be housed in communities, in safe-secure accommodation, preferably owned by the state. We can’t allow the UK Government to simply close hotels but replace them with expensive, re-traumatising, former military camps. We must demand better.”