Residents plan fresh legal action against Home Office over Crowborough asylum housing
Crowborough Shield is set to challenge military camp use after it's initial bid was dismissed
Last updated 27th Feb 2026
A residents' group in East Sussex is set to initiate a new legal challenge against the Home Office's plan to use a military training camp as accommodation for asylum seekers.
Crowborough Shield, a community interest company, had previously filed a claim against the Government last year after it considered housing up to 540 men at the site in Crowborough.
The initial legal bid, filed in December, was dismissed last Friday by Mr Justice Mould, who deemed it "premature" as the Government's decision was finalized only in January.
However, Mr Justice Mould indicated that the January decision is "at least in principle" open to challenge.
Speaking after the ruling, Matthew Shankland from Crowborough Shield stated that the group plans to file a new claim against the Home Office by Wednesday, the deadline for contesting the decision.
He noted, "We believe that issuing this claim when we did was the only available course for our community."
The group has invested over £100,000 in legal fees and anticipates potentially further similar expenses with a renewed claim.
Kim Bailey, the group’s director and chairwoman, remarked on the financial implications of the upcoming claim and stressed it was ultimately the community’s decision to proceed further.
The Home Office intends to use the Crowborough site for 12 months, after accommodating Afghan families evacuated during the 2021 Kabul withdrawal.
Despite local protests and opposition from Wealden District Council, the plan to house asylum seekers was approved in January, with 27 men arriving last month.
Barristers representing Crowborough Shield described the claim as a challenge to the "unlawful" decision-making process.
The Home Office maintained the challenge was "premature," with their lawyers arguing the bid was "totally without merit."
James Strachan KC, for the Home Office, stated that the earlier challenge was based on a decision "which had not been taken."
Following the court ruling, Mr Shankland reinforced the belief that the Home Office's decision to use the site was made before January, inviting Wealden District Council to join them in the legal action.