'Urgent application' to use RAF base for asylum seekers

The Home Office has submitted an urgent application to turn a Suffolk military base into accommodation for asylum seekers.

Plans to use RAF Barnham, near Thetford, to house up to 3,750 migrants were revealed last month. Multiple protests were staged outside the base, and councillors unanimously agreed that the site was not suitable at a West Suffolk Council meeting.

However, on Friday, Nick Timothy, Conservative MP for West Suffolk, said the Home Office had escalated the plans and was trying to secure a final decision from the Secretary of State, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A Home Office spokesperson said it was "working with local authorities and others to fairly disperse asylum seekers across basic accommodation including ex-military sites".

It added that "Five military sites are either in use or being explored to house asylum seekers" across the country.

According to Timothy, the Home Office submitted an "Urgent Crown Development" bid to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

This would enable the government to consider the proposals and make a decision.

Timothy shared screenshots of a letter from the Home Office about the plans.

The government body wrote to the MP to say that the application had been made due to the national importance in "responding to sustained pressure on the asylum accommodation estate" and reducing reliance "on hotels and other contingency accommodation".

It added: "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."

In a social media post, Timothy said: "The Home Office says this does not mean a final decision has been made to use Barnham in this way - but of course it shows that the power of the state is fully behind the plan.

"I will continue to oppose the imposition of undocumented illegal immigrants on our local community."

Cliff Waterman, Labour leader of West Suffolk Council, previously said endangered birds nest in the countryside around the base and were protected in law.

The Home Office said discussions about Barnham were at an early stage and remain subject to planning permission, feasibility assessments and due diligence, including engagement with local stakeholders.

Before July 2024, there were 400 hotels in use at a cost of £9 million a day. Now just under 170 remain in use.

The spokesperson added: "We are seeing results. Asylum seekers in hotels are down 35% in the last year and down 63% from the peak of 56,000 in September 2023."

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