The key facts

  • Planning permission has been granted to house up to 1,256 men at the former MOD Bicester base near Bicester in Oxfordshire
  • The decision drew 3,177 objections and only one letter of support; the village of Piddington symbolically 'voted' to leave the United Kingdom
  • The Home Office stresses that no final decision on housing asylum seekers has yet been made; the approval can be challenged in the High Court within six weeks

Approval Through an Expedited Procedure

The UK Government has granted planning permission to house asylum seekers at a former Ministry of Defence (MoD) site near Bicester in Oxfordshire. The Home Office application provides for housing up to 1,256 men and was fast-tracked through the Urgent Crown Development mechanism — a procedure for urgent state projects. The permission allows the demolition of existing buildings, the construction of new modular accommodation, and the creation of healthcare and social support facilities.

Thousands of Objections and Legal Battles

According to a government report, the decision received 3,177 objections and only one letter of support. The neighbouring village of Piddington symbolically voted to 'leave the United Kingdom' in protest against the project, and activists previously challenged the plans in the High Court. According to the report, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner ruled that permission should be granted because 'national demand for asylum accommodation remains high'.

Political Reaction

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said that Angela Rayner and the Labour government had 'betrayed the residents of Piddington by abusing emergency powers', and called instead of housing 'illegal immigrants' to leave the European Convention on Human Rights in order to enable rapid deportation. Liberal Democrat Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock, called the project 'the wrong plan and the wrong site' for local communities, asylum seekers and taxpayers, expressing disappointment at the approval despite serious concerns from residents and local councils.

What Happens Next

The Home Office stressed that the permission 'allows work to continue on using MOD Bicester', but a final decision on opening the site has not yet been made. The Government says it is working towards a fairer distribution of asylum accommodation across the country and has saved more than £1 billion since the election, planning to close all asylum hotels and move residents into alternative accommodation, including former military sites — self-sufficient, with round-the-clock security and CCTV. The approval may be challenged by an application to the High Court within six weeks of the day following the date of the decision; moreover, as the Government noted, only the legal validity of the decision can be challenged, not a review of the planning merits.

The gates outside MoD Bicester site A. A security guard is patrolling behind gates and a barbed wire fence.
Image caption,

The government plans are for accommodating up to 1,256 men at the site near Bicester

A general view of the Royal Courts of Justice in London.Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

The decision was made despite campaigners lodging their complaints to the High Court

The gates outside MoD Bicester site A. A security guard is patrolling behind gates and a barbed wire fence.The gates outside MoD Bicester site A. A security guard is patrolling behind gates and a barbed wire fence.The gates outside MoD Bicester site A. A security guard is patrolling behind gates and a barbed wire fence.Matthew Barber has short brown hair. He is wearing a blue blazer over a pink shirt. In the background behind him is a road, which is out of focus.