Defence minister Luke Pollard has described plans to house migrants at a former military base as an “important part” of efforts to close all asylum hotels, while acknowledging that temporary accommodation has an impact on local communities.
Speaking to Sky News, Pollard said he did not want any migrants housed in temporary accommodation but that it is necessary while reforms to the asylum system are ongoing. He defended the decision by Communities Secretary Angela Rayner to grant full planning permission for the Ministry of Defence site in Bicester, insisting it would not have been offered if it "severely affected or negatively affected military outputs".
Village protest and legal challenge warning
Residents in the Oxfordshire village of Piddington symbolically voted to leave the UK in September over proposals to house 1,256 male asylum seekers at a nearby former military base. The protest vote gained national attention, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage among politicians to back the village.
Piddington's parish council chairman Tim McNally warned ministers to brace for a legal challenge. He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the village could also apply the new Hillsborough Law. Asked how the village would respond to the decision, he said: “There’s going to be many actions, you will see. We will disclose that as we move forward. Today is a day of reflection, and we’ll work out where we plan to go from this point. But I will say, the Hillsborough Law is there for a reason, and we’re going to apply it.” Asked if ministers should be braced for a legal challenge, he said: “Absolutely, absolutely.”
Government defends decision
Rayner approved full planning permission on Thursday evening for the former barracks to be turned into accommodation for detained asylum seekers. 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.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “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 Government is working on a fairer distribution of asylum accommodation across the country, with over £1billion 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.” There is now a six-week window during which the decision can face a legal challenge.
Political reaction
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said Rayner had "betrayed" the people of Piddington, despite asylum hotel use surging under the Tories. At its peak under the Conservatives in September 2023 - when current Reform MP Suella Braverman was running the asylum system - the number stood at over 56,000.
Liberal Democrat MP Calum Miller, who represents Bicester and Woodstock, said he was “deeply disappointed” in the approval of the site after concerns were raised by residents and local councils.
