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The Home Office is planning to convert three additional military sites into accommodation centers for thousands of asylum seekers as part of the government’s effort to reduce reliance on hotel housing. Locations in Bicester (Oxfordshire), Barnham (Suffolk), and Linton-on-Ouse (North Yorkshire) are being considered, potentially providing space for around 3,750 asylum seekers, pending approval of planning permissions. Alongside these proposals, the government aims to prolong the use of currently operational military facilities at Crowborough in East Sussex until 2030 and RAF Wethersfield in Essex beyond 2027.
Labour has committed to ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers, a method that has faced criticism due to high costs and has become a target for anti-migrant protests. Data indicates that as of March, 21% of asylum seekers—approximately 20,885 people—were housed in hotels, while the vast majority, 75%, stayed in other forms of accommodation while awaiting decisions on their cases. Notably, the number of asylum seekers in hotels has decreased significantly from a high of 56,000 in September 2023. Recently, the Home Office announced the closure of 20 additional asylum hotels, bringing the total number in use down to 170.
The transition to using military barracks is part of a wider system adjustment. Border security and asylum minister Alex Norris emphasized the shift away from hotels left by the previous government, stating, “We are moving asylum seekers into ex-military sites that are a far cry from the hotels the last government left us with. This is a system being brought back under control – and we will not stop until the job is done.” However, opposition voices challenge this approach. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp argued that Labour should prioritize deporting illegal immigrants over managing accommodations in military sites and hotels, claiming, “Labour will not do what is needed to tear down the barriers to deportation, and without deportation, there is no deterrent.”
The government’s intent to expand the use of Ministry of Defence locations for asylum housing was announced last year, with existing sites like RAF Wethersfield and Crowborough Training Camp already utilized. Despite these moves, the deployment of military sites faces practical challenges and resistance from local communities and human rights organizations. Recently, plans to house around 300 male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks in Inverness were abandoned following protests. The British Red Cross highlighted concerns regarding the suitability of military barracks, noting, “Military barracks are often in isolated locations and, by their very nature, can retraumatise people who have fled conflict and persecution.” Sam Turner, director of migration and displacement at the British Red Cross, stressed that while hotel accommodation is problematic, any alternatives must support safety and dignity for those seeking asylum.
These developments precede expected immigration reforms to be introduced in Parliament soon. The upcoming Immigration and Asylum Bill, which aims to increase forced removals of refused asylum seekers, is scheduled for debate in the House of Commons and may face significant opposition within the Labour party. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is poised to lead the legislative push, a process that will continue under the next prime minister after Sir Keir Starmer’s departure. Notably, Andy Burnham, anticipated to become Labour leader and premier, has expressed support for the general direction of Mahmood’s proposals.
The use of hotels for asylum seeker accommodation surged in 2020 due to delays in processing asylum claims and a shortage of permanent housing. However, their presence in local areas has sparked protest, legal battles with councils, and concerns about escalating costs—£2.1 billion was spent on hotel accommodation in 2024-2025, down from £3 billion the previous year, equating to around £8.3 million daily. Most asylum seekers residing in hotels arrived via small boat crossings of the English Channel. Despite Labour’s pledge to crack down on trafficking gangs to reduce these crossings, the numbers remain high, with 41,472 arrivals recorded in 2025
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