The government has granted planning approval for contentious proposals to house up to 1,256 male asylum seekers at a former military site near the Oxfordshire village of Piddington.
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner fast-tracked the decision using an Urgent Crown Development application, citing high national demand for asylum accommodation. The approved plans for the MoD Bicester site involve demolishing existing structures, installing new modular accommodation, and establishing health and welfare facilities.
The proposal drew intense local opposition, generating 3,177 objections compared to just one submission in support. In symbolic protest, the nearby village of Piddington voted to secede from the UK. Local representatives, including Bicester and Woodstock Liberal Democrat MP Calum Miller and Piddington parish councillor Joe Marshall, strongly criticized the approval, arguing it bypasses community concerns and local councils.
Political figures also weighed in on the decision. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp condemned the use of emergency powers, while Reform UK home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf criticized the project. A Home Office spokesperson stated that the planning permission allows the department to continue progressing the use of the site, though a final decision to proceed with the scheme has not yet been finalized.
Opponents have a six-week window from the day after the decision to challenge the approval in the High Court on legal grounds.
