The Home Office has lodged an "Urgent Crown Development" request with MHCLG to convert RAF Barnham in Suffolk into accommodation for up to 3,750 asylum seekers. Local councillors have unanimously declared the site unsuitable and protests have taken place. The Home Office says five former military sites are being considered nationally and stresses the application does not pre-judge the outcome; discussions remain subject to planning, feasibility checks and local engagement. The government also cites a significant reduction in hotel use for asylum accommodation year-on-year.
Home Office Submits Urgent Bid To Convert RAF Barnham To House Up To 3,750 Asylum Seekers
RAF Barnham, or Barnham Camp, has been used as accommodation for military personnel [Martin Giles/BBC]
The Home Office has submitted an urgent application seeking permission to convert the RAF Barnham military site in Suffolk, near Thetford, into accommodation for asylum seekers capable of housing up to 3,750 people.
Plans to repurpose the base were first reported last month and prompted multiple protests outside the site. Councillors at West Suffolk Council unanimously voted that the location was unsuitable for asylum accommodation.
On Friday, Conservative MP Nick Timothy said the Home Office had escalated the proposal by submitting an "Urgent Crown Development" request to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). That designation allows the government to consider the scheme at national level and reach a formal decision.
What the government says
A Home Office spokesperson said the department is "working with local authorities and others to fairly disperse asylum seekers across basic accommodation including ex-military sites." The spokesperson confirmed that "five military sites are either in use or being explored to house asylum seekers" across the country.
Councillors from all parties unanimously backed a motion, saying the site was not suitable for asylum seekers [Zoie O'Brien/BBC]
"The application enables the relevant planning issues to be considered, but it does not predetermine the outcome, and it remains the case that no final decision has been taken on the site's future use." — MHCLG letter to MP Nick Timothy
Local reaction and concerns
Mr Timothy shared screenshots of correspondence from the Home Office and said on social media that, while the government insists no final decision has been made, the move shows the state is "fully behind the plan." He said he will continue to oppose using the site for what he described as the "imposition of undocumented illegal immigrants" on the local community.
Cliff Waterman, leader of West Suffolk Council, has warned that the countryside around Barnham is habitat for protected and endangered birds, raising environmental and legal concerns about suitability. Councillors from all parties previously backed a motion saying the site was unsuitable for asylum accommodation.
Wider context
The Home Office said discussions about Barnham remain at an early stage and are subject to planning permission, feasibility assessments, due diligence and engagement with local stakeholders. It framed the request as part of efforts to respond to "sustained pressure on the asylum accommodation estate" and to reduce reliance on hotels and other contingency accommodation.
Before July 2024 there were around 400 hotels in use for asylum accommodation at an estimated cost of £9 million a day; that number has since fallen to just under 170. The Home Office said asylum placements in hotels are down 35% year-on-year and down 63% from the peak of about 56,000 in September 2023.
If you have a suggestion or information about local reaction in Suffolk, the reporting team invites contact through the usual channels.
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