The communities secretary, Angela Rayner, has granted full planning permission for an asylum accommodation centre at a former Ministry of Defence site near Piddington, Oxfordshire, drawing criticism from local residents and the Conservative shadow housing secretary.
The decision approves the refurbishment and redevelopment of the former barracks at MoD Bicester, a site near the village of Piddington and the town of Bicester. The Home Office has stressed that planning permission is separate from a final decision to proceed, a spokesperson said on Thursday: “Planning permission allows us to continue to progress the use of MoD Bicester. However, a final decision to proceed is yet to be taken.”
The Home Office added: “The government is working on a fairer distribution of asylum accommodation across the country, with over £1bn saved in costs since the election. This includes closing all asylum hotels and moving to alternative accommodation, including former military sites. These are designed to be self-contained, with 24/7 security and CCTV, to minimise the impact on the local community.”
Plans call for 1,256 detained asylum seekers to be housed at the site. In September, people in Piddington voted in a symbolic referendum, with 285 voting to leave the UK in protest at the plans and 26 voting against independence. The vote was organised by campaigners to demonstrate opposition to the accommodation.
A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “The secretary of state has granted full planning permission for the temporary, phased use of the former MoD Bicester storage site. As the decision may be subject to legal challenge, it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
The approval follows a separate legal challenge by the campaign group Wrong Plan Wrong Site, which sought a judicial review of the Home Office’s proposals for the site. In August, the government concluded that an environmental assessment was unnecessary, a decision also challenged by campaigners, who said there were “credible concerns about potential significant environmental effects”.
Shadow housing secretary Katie Lam said: “Angela Rayner has told the people of Piddington that their voices count for nothing. A village of a few hundred people will now have 1,256 illegal male migrants housed on its doorstep against the wishes of almost everyone who lives there.”
She added: “Andy Burnham says every community must ‘play their part’ when it comes to housing illegal migrants, but why should British people suffer as a result of this government’s refusal to secure our border? The answer is not moving illegal migrants from hotels to military bases. It is removing them as soon as they arrive. Only the Conservatives are serious about protecting British communities.”
The Home Office announced in June it was exploring the use of three former military sites to house asylum seekers: MoD Bicester, MoD Barnham and MoD Linton-on-Ouse. The government is also seeking to extend the use of existing sites at Crowborough until 2030 and Wethersfield beyond 2027.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The decision underscores the government’s push to replace hotel-based asylum accommodation with military sites, a policy that has sparked both cost-saving arguments and local backlash.
- The outcome sets a precedent for other proposed sites at MoD Barnham and MoD Linton-on-Ouse, where similar planning processes and opposition may unfold.
- Legal challenges and the six-week window for a judicial review mean the project could be delayed or blocked, testing the government’s ability to deliver its asylum strategy.
Background
The government inherited a system of housing asylum seekers in hotels, which it has pledged to phase out. In June, it announced plans to use three former military bases, MoD Bicester in Oxfordshire, MoD Barnham in Suffolk and MoD Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire, as part of a shift to self-contained, secure accommodation. MoD Bicester’s planning approval is the first concrete step toward that approach.
Key Perspectives
Residents of Piddington: Held a symbolic referendum in September in which an overwhelming majority voted to leave the UK, expressing opposition to the asylum centre.
Wrong Plan Wrong Site (campaign group): Has taken the Home Office to court, arguing the government improperly decided that an environmental assessment was unnecessary, citing “credible concerns about potential significant environmental effects.”
Home Office: Says planning permission allows it to continue progressing the site but that a final decision to proceed is yet to be taken; it stresses the sites are designed to minimise local impact with 24/7 security and CCTV, and that the government is saving over £1bn in costs by closing asylum hotels.
Katie Lam, shadow housing secretary: Accuses the government of ignoring local voices and argues that efforts should focus on removing illegal migrants rather than moving them from hotels to military bases.
What to Watch
- Whether the six-week window for a legal challenge results in a judicial review that halts or alters the project.
- The timing of the Home Office’s final decision on whether to proceed with the site, and any updates on the other two proposed military bases.
- How the Piddington case shapes the broader debate over the distribution of asylum accommodation across the UK, including comments from figures like Andy Burnham about the role of more affluent areas.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedAngela Rayner approved full planning permission for an asylum centre near Piddington despite local opposition.World news | The Guardian: “The communities secretary, Angela Rayner, has approved full planning permission for an asylum centre at a Ministry of Defence site near the village of Piddington in Oxfordshire.”
- SupportedThe decision covers plans for 1,256 detained asylum seekers at MoD Bicester.World news | The Guardian: “In September, people in Piddington voted to leave the UK in a symbolic referendum against plans to house 1,256 detained asylum seekers nearby.”
- SupportedThe planning decision can face a legal challenge within six weeks.World news | The Guardian: “There is now a six-week window when the decision can face a legal challenge.”
- SupportedThe Home Office said planning permission does not mean a final decision to proceed has been taken.World news | The Guardian: ““Planning permission allows us to continue to progress the use of MoD Bicester. However, a final decision to proceed is yet to be taken.””
- SupportedThe Home Office said more than £1bn had been saved in costs since the election.World news | The Guardian: “with over £1bn saved in costs since the election.”
- SupportedIn September, 285 people voted for independence from the UK and 26 voted against it in Piddington’s symbolic referendum.World news | The Guardian: “A total of 285 people were in favour of independence from the UK while 26 voted against.”
- SupportedThe government concluded in August that an environmental assessment was unnecessary, and campaigners challenged that decision.World news | The Guardian: “In August, the government concluded an environmental assessment was unnecessary for the proposed development. But campaigners challenged that decision”
- SupportedKatie Lam said Rayner had told Piddington residents their voices counted for nothing.World news | The Guardian: “Katie Lam, the shadow housing secretary of state, said: “Angela Rayner has told the people of Piddington that their voices count for nothing.””
- SupportedKatie Lam said the village would have 1,256 illegal male migrants housed nearby against the wishes of almost everyone who lived there.World news | The Guardian: ““A village of a few hundred people will now have 1,256 illegal male migrants housed on its doorstep against the wishes of almost everyone who lives there.””
- SupportedThe Home Office announced in June that it was exploring three former military sites for asylum accommodation: MoD Bicester, MoD Barnham and MoD Linton-on-Ouse.World news | The Guardian: “The Home Office announced in June it was exploring the use of three former military sites to house asylum seekers: MoD Bicester, MoD Barnham and MoD Linton-on-Ouse.”
- SupportedThe government is seeking to extend use of Crowborough until 2030 and Wethersfield beyond 2027.World news | The Guardian: “The government is also seeking to extend the use of two existing sites, Crowborough until 2030 and Wethersfield beyond 2027.”