UK Village Sues Home Office Over Asylum Seeker Camp Plans
Piddington residents claim environmental laws were ignored in the proposed housing of 1,256 asylum seekers.
Villagers in Piddington, Oxfordshire, who symbolically declared independence from Britain to protest a planned asylum seeker camp, have filed a lawsuit against the Home Office. The community interest company Bicester Countryside and Communities CIC, representing the "Wrong Plan Wrong Site" campaign, alleges that the Home Office unlawfully disregarded the potential impact on local wildlife when planning to house up to 1,256 asylum seekers at a former Ministry of Defence site.
In their filing to the High Court, the campaigners assert that the Home Office failed to adequately consider the presence of endangered species, including rare bats and the black hairstreak butterfly, in the vicinity of the proposed facility. They argue that the government concluded an environmental impact assessment was unnecessary without proper evaluation, which they believe would reveal the need for protective measures.
The former MoD Bicester site is slated to become one of three ex-military locations intended to house a total of 3,750 asylum seekers, as part of the government's plan to move away from using hotels. The site is situated adjacent to Piddington Reserve, a local area used for recreation.
Joe Marshall, a Piddington parish councillor and planning expert, stated that bat detectors have identified Barbastelle bats, a species with an estimated population of only 5,000 in the UK, near the site. Environmental records also indicate the presence of great crested newts, otters, and badgers. Many of these species are protected under the 2017 Conservation of Habitats and Species regulations, requiring licenses for activities that could disturb their environment.
If the legal action is successful, it could compel the Home Office to conduct a full environmental impact assessment, potentially delaying the project for months if protected species are confirmed. The Urgent Crown Development application is currently under review by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, which is required to consult with statutory bodies like Natural England.
Last month, Piddington held a symbolic referendum where 92% of voters opted for independence from the UK, signaling strong local opposition to the asylum seeker camp. The vote, while not legally binding, aimed to convey the depth of local sentiment.
A Home Office spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of the live planning application.