The quiet Oxfordshire town of Bicester is set to become home to a significant number of single adult male asylum seekers, with the government confirming plans for a 1,250-capacity facility on a former Ministry of Defence (MoD) site. The move follows a government push to transition asylum seekers out of hotels and into more self-sufficient accommodation arrangements.
The Bicester site will provide basic, safe accommodation designed to minimise its impact on the local community, according to details published by the Home Office. While it is projected that around 270 individuals could be housed at the site by the end of 2026, the facility's use is expected to extend beyond this period, with a minimum ten-year approval in place if granted.
Locals have expressed shock and concern over the plans, with Piddington Parish Council chair Tim McNally warning that residents would be "taking a hit on behalf of the United Kingdom." Critics argue that women and children in the community will need to adapt their lives to accommodate the influx of men. The Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock, Calum Miller, has also raised concerns about the proposal.
The Home Office assures that the site will be monitored by CCTV and feature 24/7 security, with asylum seekers undergoing mandatory security checks and having their biometric data linked to immigration, security, and criminality databases. The initiative aims to reduce the financial burden of housing asylum seekers in hotels, a practice criticised by both the government and opposition parties.
Currently, around 20,885 (21%) asylum seekers are accommodated in hotels, while 72,768 (75%) await decisions on their applications in other forms of accommodation. The Labour Party has pledged to cease the use of hotels for asylum seekers, highlighting concerns over costs and social impact. Two other former military sites, RAF Wethersfield in Essex and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex, are already being used for housing asylum seekers.