Location chosen for the mega-barge which will accommodate 500 asylum seekers on the British coast

The gigantic houseboat named Bibby Stockholm was considered an "oppressive environment" when it was used by the Dutch government to house asylum seekers in 2005

The barge named Bibby Stockholm will be moored in Portland

A gigantic houseboat that can accommodate more than 500 people will be announced as new accommodation for asylum seekers in a few days.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has signed an agreement for the Bibby Stockholm to be used for those arriving on small boats across the English Channel.

She will announce this week that she has chartered the vessel, which will be moored at Portland in Dorset.

The Sunday Mirror revealed over the weekend that the Home Office is in negotiations with its owners, Liverpool-based Bibby Marine.

The houseboat is 91 meters long and can accommodate 506 people.

Bibby Marine said it had been renovated since a watchdog called it an "oppressive environment" when the Dutch government used it to house asylum seekers in 2005.

Portland was previously home to the floating prison HMP Weare, which was closed in 2006 (

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PENNSYLVANIA)

It was also used by energy company Petrofac for workers building the Shetland Gasworks.

According to sources, chartering such a vessel costs between £8,000 and £15,000 per day.

The move comes after Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said the Tories were 'looking into the possibility' of using ships instead of hotels, which would cost taxpayers £6million a year. day.

Mr. Jenrick announced last week the use of two former RAF sites - Wethersfield in Essex and Scampton in Lincolnshire - to house those making the perilous journey across the Channel in small boats, as well as a former prison site at Battle, East Sussex.

The proposal to use ships and barges as accommodation has been called a "trick" by critics.