Nearly 4,000 Asylum Seekers Celebrate Move to New Military Bases, But Face One Problem They Never Expected

The Home Office is pressing ahead with plans to use three additional former military bases to accommodate thousands of asylum seekers as part of its ongoing effort to reduce the country’s reliance on expensive hotel accommodation.

The sites identified are MOD Bicester in Oxfordshire, MOD Barnham in Suffolk and MOD Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire, with almost 4,000 migrants expected to be housed across the three locations. The move forms part of the Government’s wider strategy to phase out the use of hotels, which have become one of the most controversial aspects of the asylum system in recent years due to their significant cost to taxpayers and the concerns raised by local communities.

The decision is already attracting criticism, particularly over the inclusion of MOD Linton-on-Ouse, which has previously been at the centre of fierce opposition. In 2022, residents strongly rejected proposals introduced under former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel to accommodate up to 1,500 asylum seekers at the former RAF base. Villagers argued the rural location lacked the infrastructure needed to support such a large number of people, highlighting limited healthcare services, public transport, schools and policing resources. Many residents also expressed concerns about the impact such a large facility would have on the character of the small village, insisting the area was simply not designed to accommodate an influx of that size.

The latest announcement is expected to reignite those concerns, with campaigners warning that local communities continue to shoulder the consequences of the ongoing small boat crossings across the English Channel. Critics argue that while ministers continue to promise tougher border controls, councils and residents are increasingly being asked to absorb the practical impact of rising asylum numbers.

The Government has also confirmed that Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex will continue to house asylum seekers until at least 2030, despite earlier assurances that its use would only be temporary. The extension has prompted fresh criticism from opponents, who say temporary emergency measures are quietly becoming long-term arrangements without proper consultation or transparency.

Labour ministers insist that using former military sites is a more responsible and cost-effective alternative to housing asylum seekers in hotels. Officials confirmed that another 20 asylum hotels have now closed, including the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, which became one of the most high-profile and controversial migrant hotels in the country following repeated protests and public disorder. As a result of these closures, fewer than 170 asylum hotels remain in operation across the UK, representing a significant reduction from the peak reached under the previous Conservative Government.

Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said the Government was delivering on its promise to return hotels to their original purpose and reduce the burden on local communities. He argued that hotel use has more than halved since reaching its highest level and claimed that moving asylum seekers into former military facilities represents a far more controlled and sustainable approach. According to Norris, the Government intends to continue reducing hotel use until none remain in the asylum accommodation system.

The debate over Linton-on-Ouse has a long political history. In 2022, former Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace intervened to block the Home Office’s plans to establish an asylum reception centre at the site after widespread local opposition. Residents threatened legal action and argued that placing up to 1,500 asylum seekers in such a small rural community would overwhelm local services while fundamentally altering village life. Concerns were also raised about public safety, although supporters of the scheme argued many fears were based on speculation rather than evidence.

The military base itself is well known for its aviation history, with Prince William completing part of his pilot training there while learning to fly Tucano aircraft during his time with the Royal Air Force.

Although ministers have publicly promoted former military bases as an alternative to hotels, accommodation providers contracted by the Home Office have confirmed that ordinary housing will remain the backbone of the asylum accommodation system. Houses, flats, bedsits and large shared properties continue to form the core of dispersal accommodation, where asylum seekers are placed within communities across the country rather than in dedicated reception centres.

Nearly 70,000 asylum seekers are already living in dispersal accommodation across Britain, including thousands housed in large Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The Government also plans to create around 10,000 additional bed spaces, particularly across London, the South of England and Wales, in order to reduce the number of people still waiting in hotels or temporary accommodation.

Chris Lakey, Chief Executive of Clearspring Ready Homes, told MPs that the company’s long-term objective has always been to move away from hotel accommodation and return to its traditional model of providing housing within local communities. He explained that discussions with the Home Office, local authorities and community representatives are ongoing to significantly expand dispersal accommodation, with proposals for approximately 10,000 additional bed spaces already submitted. Around half of those proposals are said to be progressing through the approval process.

Some of the additional accommodation may come from properties that are also being considered by local authorities for use as social housing, a prospect that has fuelled further political debate over housing pressures and competition for available homes.

Questions also remain over the financial cost of some existing accommodation arrangements. Housing approximately 350 asylum seekers at Crowborough Training Camp is estimated to cost taxpayers around £160 per person each night, making it around £16 more expensive than the average hotel room despite the Government’s aim of reducing overall accommodation costs.

Previous reporting has suggested the total number of asylum seekers living in dispersal accommodation could eventually approach 100,000 under long-term Home Office contracts awarded to Serco, Mears and Clearspring Ready Homes. Internal Service User Demand Plans outline capacity targets across every region of the country, allocating space for well over 114,000 asylum seekers nationwide.

Current figures indicate that more than 68,000 people have already been placed into dispersal accommodation, while a further 66,000 remain in need of housing as asylum claims continue to be processed. Regional pressures vary considerably, with both the North East and North West already exceeding their planned allocation targets while still needing to identify accommodation for around 2,000 additional people between them.

The West Midlands is also expected to exceed its planned capacity. More than 9,000 asylum seekers are already living in dispersal accommodation across the region, while nearly 5,000 additional individuals remain in the accommodation pipeline. If current projections are realised, the total number housed in the West Midlands could rise to almost 11,000, placing further demands on local housing stock and public services as the Government continues its effort to replace hotel accommodation with longer-term housing solutions.