The UK’s National Audit Office (NAO) has condemned the Home Office for a rushed £15 million purchase of the Northeye site, a derelict prison contaminated with asbestos, made under pressure to find alternative housing for migrants. The acquisition, deemed ‘high risk’ due to environmental concerns, was concluded without proper due diligence and was more than double the seller’s previous price. While the Home Office defended the decision as a response to past government actions, the NAO’s report highlights serious missteps that led to the acquisition of a site ultimately unsuitable for housing asylum seekers.