The Home Office's plan to expand Campsfield House immigration removal centre in Oxfordshire, with new accommodation blocks 20 metres from a sewage pumping station, has prompted warnings from Thames Water and criticism from campaigners over potential effects on detainees. A public inquiry into the proposals is set to open on 14 December.
Thames Water, in a written submission to the planning process, warned that the proposed secure accommodation blocks could give rise to “amenity effects, including odour, noise, vibration, lighting associated with maintenance activities, insects and flies” for any inhabitants. A separate 2015 consultation response, submitted in June, flagged that the development may lead to sewage flooding in the area and requested an impact study “to ascertain, with a greater degree of certainty, whether the proposed development will lead to overloading of existing infrastructure”.
The centre near Kidlington reopened in December 2025 after being shut in 2018 following years of problems including suicides, riots, escapes and complaints about conditions. The Home Office is seeking to increase its capacity from 160 bed spaces to 400 and to convert existing buildings. The government hopes to expand the immigration detention estate by 40%.
Ally Swadling, lead legal education officer at the charity Right to Remain, said: “Thames Water’s concerns about sewage infrastructure at Campsfield show how little regard is being given to even the most basic standards of sanitation and human dignity. They reinforce what we already know – this government is putting its political priorities above people’s lives and wellbeing.”
Imran Hussain, director of external affairs at the Refugee Council, said: “Detention is a harmful, dehumanising experience that must only be used as a last resort. Evidence shows it’s ineffective, expensive and damages people forced to endure it. Instead of expanding sites such as Campsfield House immigration removal centre, and in this case, in a way that could potentially be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of people staying there, the government must instead use community-based alternatives detention, which have proven to be effective and much cheaper.”
Oxfordshire County Council has formally objected to the expansion, saying it risks intensifying existing public concern, and has called for the site to be shut permanently.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are confident in our plans for Campsfield immigration removal centre and will continue to engage constructively with the Planning Inspectorate as the process moves forward. We are committed to increasing the removal of those with no right to remain in the UK. Expanding our detention capacity plays an important role in achieving this.” According to the Home Office, nearly 80,000 people have been returned or deported from the UK since the 2024 election to the end of June 2026, an increase of 52% on the previous two years.
Thames Water said they had nothing to add to their written response.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The expansion proposal highlights the UK government's push to increase detention capacity despite longstanding concerns about conditions at Campsfield House.
- Thames Water's warnings raise questions about whether basic sanitation and health standards can be met at the site.
- The public inquiry outcome could set a precedent for how planning objections are weighed against immigration enforcement priorities.
Background
Campsfield House immigration removal centre was closed in 2018 after a troubled history that included suicides, riots, escapes and repeated complaints about conditions. It reopened in December 2025. The Home Office is seeking to expand the national detention estate by 40% and has reported a 52% increase in removals since the 2024 election. The centre's planned expansion from 160 to 400 bed spaces is part of that push.
Key Perspectives
Thames Water: warned that the proposed accommodation blocks, 20 metres from a sewage pumping station, could cause odour, noise, vibration, lighting, insects and flies, and that existing infrastructure may lack capacity.
Right to Remain: said the concerns show “little regard is being given to even the most basic standards of sanitation and human dignity”.
Refugee Council: said detention is “harmful, dehumanising” and should be a last resort, urging community-based alternatives.
Oxfordshire County Council: has formally objected to the expansion and called for the site to be permanently shut.
Home Office: said it is confident in its plans and that expanding detention capacity is important to increase removals of those with no right to remain.
What to Watch
- The public inquiry opening on 14 December, which will hear written representations including those from Thames Water.
- Whether the Planning Inspectorate requires Thames Water's requested impact study before granting approval.
- Any further campaign or legal challenges if the expansion is approved.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedThe Oxfordshire asylum-centre expansion plan is criticised because of its proximity to sewage works.World news | The Guardian: “Planned asylum seeker detention centre next to Oxfordshire sewage works criticised.”
- SupportedThames Water warns of odour, noise and insect swarms at the proposed detention blocks.World news | The Guardian: “A Home Office plan to build asylum seeker detention facilities next to a sewage pump is facing objections after water company officials warned that detainees should expect to experience insect swarms and strong smells.”
- SupportedThe proposed accommodation blocks will be 20 metres from a sewage pumping station.World news | The Guardian: “Proposed secure accommodation blocks at Campsfield House immigration removal centre in Oxfordshire will be 20 metres from a sewage pumping station, according to a written submission from Thames Water.”
- SupportedA public inquiry into the proposals is due to begin on 14 December.World news | The Guardian: “Written representations, including that of Thames Water, will be heard at a public inquiry beginning on 14 December.”
- SupportedThames Water’s submission says the blocks could cause amenity effects including odour, noise, vibration, maintenance lighting, insects and flies for inhabitants.World news | The Guardian: ““amenity effects, including odour, noise, vibration, lighting associated with maintenance activities, insects and flies” for any inhabitants.”
- SupportedA separate 2015 response, submitted in June, warned of possible sewage flooding and requested an impact study into infrastructure overloading.World news | The Guardian: “A separate 2015 written consultation response , which was submitted in June, states the development may lead to sewage flooding in the area. “Thames Water request that an impact study be undertaken to ascertain, with a greater degree of certainty, whether the proposed development will lead to overloading of existing infrastructure,” it said.”
- SupportedCampsfield House reopened in December 2025 after closing in 2018 following years of problems including suicides, riots, escapes and complaints about conditions.World news | The Guardian: “The centre near Kidlington re-opened in December 2025 after it was shut in 2018 following years of problems, including suicides, riots, escapes and complaints about conditions.”
- SupportedThe Home Office plans to increase the centre’s capacity from 160 bed spaces to 400 and convert existing buildings.World news | The Guardian: “The Home Office is planning to increase the centre’s capacity from 160 bed spaces to 400, and to convert existing buildings.”
- SupportedThe government hopes to expand the immigration detention estate by 40%.World news | The Guardian: “The warnings, which come as the government hopes to expand the immigration detention estate by 40%”
- SupportedAlly Swadling said Thames Water’s concerns showed little regard for sanitation and human dignity and that the government was putting political priorities above people’s lives and wellbeing.World news | The Guardian: ““Thames Water’s concerns about sewage infrastructure at Campsfield show how little regard is being given to even the most basic standards of sanitation and human dignity. “They reinforce what we already know – this government is putting its political priorities above people’s lives and wellbeing.””
- SupportedImran Hussain said detention is harmful and dehumanising, should be a last resort, and that community-based alternatives have proven effective and much cheaper.World news | The Guardian: ““Detention is a harmful, dehumanising experience that must only be used as a last resort. Evidence shows it’s ineffective, expensive and damages people forced to endure it.””
- SupportedThe Home Office says nearly 80,000 people were returned or deported from the UK from the 2024 election to the end of June 2026, 52% more than in the previous two years.World news | The Guardian: “According to the Home Office, nearly 80,000 people have been returned or deported from the UK since the 2024 election to the end of June 2026, an increase of 52% on the previous two years.”