The 11 UK towns where asylum seeker housing has boomed in last 10 years

There are 11 UK towns where housing has boomed in the last decade. Across the UK as a whole, there has been a 237% increase in asylum seekers, but some towns with previously low numbers have seen increases of up to 65,000%.

In December 2024, 112,187 asylum seekers received support from local authorities. According to the Home Office, that's three times more than the 36,223 people receiving support in 2014, and it doesn't include the Homes for or Afghan Resettlement Programme. Just over 41,000 of the people receiving support last year were being housed in hotels or other contingency accommodation. People receiving support aren't evenly distributed across the country, however, with some places taking in far more than others.

Hillingdon in London was taking care of more asylum seekers than any other council area in the country relative to its size. Last year, 3,010 people received asylum support in the council area. That's up from just 140 in 2014 and works out as 94 for every 10,000 people living in the area, the highest ratio in the country.

Hounslow has the next highest ratio in the country, with its 2,127 asylum seekers (up from 68 in 2014), equivalent to 72 per 10,000 people. The council also has the second-highest number of asylum seekers living in hotels, with 1,903.

Glasgow City had the highest number of asylum seekers of any council last year, with 4,193. That is 66 per 10,000 people.

The 11 towns where asylum seeker housing has increased the most from 2014 to 2024 (and their percentage increase)

Northumberland - 65,000%

Cheshire West and Chester - 56,000%

Halton - 39,000%

Aberdeen City - 35,000%

Braintree - 24,000%

Warwick - 24,000%

Tamworth - 21,000%

North East Lincolnshire - 20,000%

Telford and Wrekin - 20,000%

Windsor and Maidenhead - 19,000%

St Helens - 19,000%