The UK Home Office is advancing plans to utilize three additional military sites to accommodate thousands of asylum seekers, aiming to reduce reliance on hotels. The Ministry of Defence sites located in Bicester, Oxfordshire; Barnham, Suffolk; and Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire, could collectively house approximately 3,750 individuals, pending planning permission.
The government is also considering extending the use of existing military facilities in Crowborough, East Sussex, beyond 2030, and Wethersfield, Essex, beyond 2027. These moves are part of a broader strategy to manage asylum seeker accommodation, which has been a costly measure and a focal point for protests.
As of March, a total of 20,885 asylum seekers were housed in hotels, with the majority, 72,768, residing in other forms of accommodation while awaiting decisions. The number of asylum seekers in hotels has decreased from a peak of 56,000 in September 2023, with the Home Office reporting the closure of 20 more asylum hotels recently, bringing the total in use to 170.
Border security and asylum minister Alex Norris stated that the transition to former military sites represents a move towards regaining control of the system. However, Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticized the Labour government's approach, advocating for the deportation of illegal immigrants instead of utilizing military camps and hotels. He argued that without strong deportation measures, there is no effective deterrent.
The government had previously announced its intention to increase the number of Ministry of Defence sites used for asylum seeker accommodation. Two such sites, RAF Wethersfield in Essex and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex, are already operational.
Despite these efforts, the use of military sites has encountered practical challenges and significant opposition from local residents and human rights organizations. A proposal to house up to 300 male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks in Inverness was recently dropped following local protests. The Red Cross has raised concerns that military barracks, often in isolated locations, may retraumatize individuals who have fled conflict and persecution. While acknowledging that hotel accommodation is not ideal, the organization emphasized that any alternative must ensure the safety and dignity of asylum seekers.