Bicester MP says he’s worried MOD site could host asylum seekers by end of year
Calum Miller says the proposed site is unsuitable and that campaigners are having to act quickly
The MP for Bicester and Woodstock has warned that a local military site could host asylum seekers by the end of the year, as he continues his campaign against the move.
The Government has submitted an application to use MOD Bicester for asylum accommodation, with the Home Office saying it is part of efforts to reduce the use of hotels for asylum seekers.
But Calum Miller says the location and scale of the plans are not suitable.
“The government has launched proposals for an asylum centre close to Bicester but even closer to some really small villages and the scale and size of this proposal is totally inappropriate," he said.
“They’re talking about housing 1,250 male asylum seekers on this site which has never had accommodation before and doesn’t have facilities."
Mr Miller said he was concerned the Government had been working on the plans for months before they were made public.
He said he had discovered the Ministry of Defence was first approached about handing the land over to the Home Office in November 2025.
“I’m really shocked that the government has tried to use an urgent planning process that would allow a government minister to be the decision maker about whether this goes ahead,” he said.
“That closes out the opportunity for local people and local authorities to have comment and consultation on a really significant proposal.
“I think the government are acting in an underhand and secretive manner and I call on them to be much more open.”
The MP said local residents had raised concerns about the site’s isolation and access to services.
“We’re not even sure it’s got electricity or a water supply," he said.
“The nearest shop is two miles away in Arncott and the nearest town is Bicester, which is five miles away.
“To access either of those places, they’ve got to cross the very fast A34 road where there have tragically been accidents in the recent past and where there’s no pavement.”
The MP said he was working with local councillors, parish councils and residents from across the political spectrum to challenge the proposal.
He said: “Bicester and our villages are areas with huge heart.
“They have welcomed people in the past, they are very cohesive and integrated communities and I’m really proud that we tried to pull together a campaign that reflects that unity.”
Mr Miller said his focus was on building a case to prevent the plans going ahead.
“We want to make it impossible for the government to proceed with this by demonstrating that it’s costly and bad value for money for taxpayers, that it’s not consistent with national policy decisions and that it would be a bad choice for local residents and for the asylum seekers who are due to be housed at this facility,” he said.
He added that campaigners are having to act quickly for a chance to have their voices heard.
“I’m really concerned that the government has spent a lot of time working on these plans in secret and are now going to move very fast to try to implement them,” he said.
“So I’m worried that the government wants to get this open before the end of the calendar year and perhaps even sooner.”
Home Office response
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The concerns of communities are central to our immigration reforms which is why we are working with local authorities and others to fairly disperse asylum seekers across basic accommodation including ex-military sites. Five military sites are either in use or being explored to house asylum seekers.
“We have already seen results. The population of asylum seekers in hotels has fallen by 35% in the last year and by 63% from the peak of 56,000 in 2023. Overall asylum costs have already fallen by nearly £1 billion since the general election.”
The Home Office said the planning application for the Bicester site does not predetermine the outcome and that no final decision had been taken on its future use.
It said discussions remained at an early stage and were subject to planning permission, feasibility assessments and further engagement with local stakeholders and communities.
The Government said large sites would play a role in reducing the use of asylum hotels, with the Home Secretary previously committing to end the use of hotels during this Parliament.