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

The Home Office is moving forward with plans to use three more former military bases to house thousands of asylum seekers. The Government says the move will help reduce the number of migrants staying in expensive hotels across the UK.

The three locations are MOD Bicester in Oxfordshire, MOD Barnham in Suffolk and MOD Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire. Almost 4,000 asylum seekers are expected to be accommodated across these sites.

The Government believes using former military bases will help save taxpayers’ money and reduce the pressure caused by housing asylum seekers in hotels. However, the decision has already raised concerns among residents, particularly in communities that have previously opposed similar plans.

One of the locations attracting the most attention is MOD Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire. This is not the first time the Government has attempted to turn the former RAF base into accommodation for asylum seekers.

In 2022, former Home Secretary Priti Patel introduced plans to house up to 1,500 asylum seekers at the site. However, the proposal faced strong opposition from people living in the village.

Residents argued that their small community did not have enough facilities to support such a large number of additional people. They raised concerns about hospitals, schools, public transport and police services.

Some villagers also feared that bringing 1,500 asylum seekers into a small rural area could change the community significantly. They believed the village was not prepared to accommodate so many people at once.

Following the latest announcement, similar concerns are expected to return. Some campaigners believe local communities are being left to deal with the pressure created by the continued arrival of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.

Critics have questioned why the Government continues to promise stronger border controls while more towns and villages are being asked to provide accommodation for asylum seekers.

Meanwhile, the Government has confirmed that Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex will continue to accommodate asylum seekers until at least 2030.

This has caused further criticism because the site was previously expected to be used only for a short period.

Some residents and campaigners now believe that arrangements originally described as temporary are gradually becoming permanent. They have also questioned whether local people are being properly consulted before such decisions are made.

Despite the criticism, Labour ministers insist that former military bases are a better alternative to hotels.

The Government has announced that another 20 hotels previously used to accommodate asylum seekers have now closed.

Among them is the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, which attracted national attention following protests and incidents of public disorder linked to its use as asylum accommodation.

According to the Home Office, fewer than 170 asylum hotels are now operating across the UK. This is a major reduction compared with the highest number recorded under the previous Conservative Government.

Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said the Government is working to fulfil its promise of returning hotels to their normal purpose.

He explained that the number of hotels being used for asylum accommodation has fallen by more than half since reaching its highest point.

Norris also argued that moving asylum seekers into former military facilities would allow the Government to manage accommodation more effectively.

He said ministers would continue closing asylum hotels until they were no longer needed.

However, the situation at Linton-on-Ouse remains particularly controversial because of what happened four years ago.

In 2022, former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stepped in to stop plans to turn the military base into an asylum reception centre.

At the time, residents strongly opposed the proposal and even threatened to take legal action.

They argued that housing up to 1,500 asylum seekers in their village could put too much pressure on local services and affect everyday life.

Some residents also raised concerns about safety, although supporters of the proposal argued that many of those fears were not supported by clear evidence.

The former RAF base also has an interesting connection to the Royal Family. Prince William completed part of his pilot training there while learning to fly Tucano aircraft during his time with the Royal Air Force.

Although the Government is now focusing on former military sites, ordinary houses and flats will continue to play an important role in accommodating asylum seekers.

Companies working with the Home Office have confirmed that houses, flats, bedsits and large shared properties will remain the main types of accommodation used.

This means many asylum seekers will continue living in residential areas alongside other members of the public instead of being placed in hotels or large reception centres.

Nearly 70,000 asylum seekers are already living in this type of accommodation across Britain.

Some are housed in large shared buildings known as Houses in Multiple Occupation, or HMOs, where several people live in the same property.

The Government is also planning to provide around 10,000 more bed spaces, particularly in London, southern England and Wales.

The aim is to move more asylum seekers out of hotels and other temporary accommodation while their applications are being considered.

Chris Lakey, the Chief Executive of Clearspring Ready Homes, told MPs that his company has always wanted to reduce its reliance on hotels.

He explained that the company’s preferred approach is to accommodate asylum seekers in ordinary residential properties within local communities.

Lakey said discussions are continuing with the Home Office, local councils and community representatives about increasing the number of available properties.

According to him, proposals for around 10,000 additional bed spaces have already been submitted, with approximately half moving through the approval process.

However, the plans have also raised questions about the availability of housing.

Some properties being considered for asylum accommodation may also be suitable for social housing.

This has created concerns that the Government’s plans could increase competition for homes at a time when many families are already struggling to find affordable accommodation.

There are also questions about whether moving asylum seekers from hotels to military bases will actually save as much money as ministers expect.

For example, accommodating around 350 asylum seekers at Crowborough Training Camp is estimated to cost taxpayers approximately £160 per person every night.

That is reportedly about £16 more per person than the average cost of hotel accommodation, despite the Government’s efforts to reduce spending.

The figures have led critics to question whether former military bases are always the cheapest option.

Meanwhile, earlier reports have suggested that the number of asylum seekers living in ordinary residential accommodation could eventually reach almost 100,000.

The Home Office has long-term accommodation contracts with companies including Serco, Mears and Clearspring Ready Homes.

Government planning documents reportedly show accommodation capacity targets covering more than 114,000 asylum seekers across different parts of the country.

Current figures suggest that more than 68,000 asylum seekers are already living in dispersal accommodation, while another 66,000 people remain in the accommodation pipeline.

The pressure is not the same everywhere.

In the North East and North West, the number of asylum seekers being accommodated has already passed the planned targets. However, the two regions may still need to find places for around 2,000 more people.

The West Midlands is another region expected to face increasing demand.

More than 9,000 asylum seekers are already living in dispersal accommodation across the region, while nearly 5,000 additional people are reportedly waiting in the accommodation pipeline.

According to the projections, the number accommodated in the West Midlands could rise to almost 11,000.

This could create further pressure on housing availability and public services, particularly in areas where local councils are already struggling to meet demand.

For now, the Government remains determined to move away from asylum hotels and introduce longer-term accommodation arrangements.

However, with thousands of asylum seekers expected to move into former military bases and residential properties, the plans are likely to remain a major subject of debate.

While ministers believe the changes will reduce costs and improve the asylum accommodation system, some residents are worried about how their communities will cope with the arrival of more people.

The coming months will show whether the Government can deliver its promise to close asylum hotels while addressing the concerns of communities expected to accommodate asylum seekers.