A PLANNING safeguard could pose an extra headache for government officials hoping to house 400 asylum seekers at HMS Daedalus in Lee-on-the-Solent.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is considering whether to put listed building status on some of the buildings under consideration to convert into an accommodation centre.

English Heritage has confirmed that a number of buildings on the former Ministry of Defence site were put forward to the DfMCS recommending they be awarded Grade II listed building status. If approved the status would put restrictions on how the buildings could be converted into suitable accommodation 400 single male asylum seekers, under Home Office plans.

A spokeswoman for English Heritage said: "We did put forward a list to the Department for Media Culture and Sport to consider putting listed building status on several buildings at Daedalus. That was done in May but we were given no indication of when they might decide to go along with the recommendation."

The news has come as a boost to campaigners fighting the plans. Daedalus Action Group chairman John Beavis said: "It would be more of a headache for the government to consider as it would put big restrictions on how they could use the buildings."

He added the news was a further consideration for the government to take into account before they make a decision on whether to press ahead with planning permission for the site.

Residents are continuing to play the waiting game after hoping a decision would have been made earlier this month.

Mr Beavis said: "It is frustrating having to wait but the longer it takes, the more consideration is going into whether to put in a planning application or not."

His views were echoed by Gosport MP Peter Viggers who yesterday in the House of Commons criticised the government's policy on asylum seekers. He was told by Home Office minister Beverley Hughes that although moves to speed up the European approach to asylum seekers were being made it would not affect the 'robust' measures Britain would have to put in place to deal with asylum seekers internally.

Mr Viggers said: "I took that rather to be a warning that the accommodation centre could still go ahead but I see it as quite positive that the decision is taking so long. I would much rather have the right answer than a quick answer."