Planning permission to house asylum seekers at a former military site near the Oxfordshire village of Piddington has been granted by the government. The Home Office’s application to house up to 1,256 men at the MoD Bicester site was fast-tracked using an Urgent Crown Development application. The nearby village of Piddington symbolically voted to leave the UK in opposition to the planned site, which has also been legally challenged by campaigners. A Home Office spokesperson said the planning permission “allows us to continue to progress the use of MoD Bicester” but no final decision on the proposal had been taken.
A government report said the decision received 3,177 representations against, and one in support. It also said Housing Secretary Angela Rayner ruled permission should be granted because “national demand for asylum accommodation remains high”. The permission allows for demolition of existing buildings, the erection of new modular accommodation, and provisions for health and welfare facilities. Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary, said: “Angela Rayner and the Labour government have betrayed the people of Piddington by abusing their emergency powers in this way.” He continued: “Instead of accommodating illegal immigrants, the government should leave the ECHR so they can be rapidly deported.” Lib Dem MP for Bicester and Woodstock Calum Miller said it was “the wrong plan and the wrong site for local communities, asylum seekers and taxpayers”.
“I am deeply disappointed that the government has approved this proposal despite the serious concerns raised by residents and local councils as well as the major problems with the site,” he added. The approval could be challenged by an application to the High Court within six weeks, beginning with the day after the date of the decision. The government said a challenge “may be brought only on the ground that the decision is legally flawed; it is not an opportunity to reconsider the planning merits”. Joe Marshall, a Piddington parish councillor, said residents of the village were “extremely frustrated”.
“The government has approved its own application against more than 3,000 objections and one letter of support, overruling the councils, the NHS and the Police and Crime Commissioner,” he said. “No wonder we voted to leave the UK.” He told BBC Newsnight: “This development is something that nobody would want to have imposed on their local area.” Reform UK home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said: “Over 1,200 unvetted illegal migrant men are being dumped in Piddington. “Tory and Labour governments have betrayed their own people. Reform will detain and deport all of these men.” A Home Office spokesperson said: “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 £1 billion 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.” Military base asylum plans challenged at High Court Legal challenge over military base asylum plans Attempt to quash asylum housing plans over safety Government told to pay for extra asylum site policing
