Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposals to accommodate asylum seekers at MoD Bicester on access to and use of nearby community facilities, including those used by Five Acres Primary School and junior and youth football teams at Launton Football Club.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
No decision has been made in respect of the use of MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation. Suitability assessments are ongoing and will consider a range of factors including safety, security, operational deliverability, planning requirements, and the impact on local services and communities.
The Home Office is engaging with local authorities, emergency services, health partners and other stakeholders as proposals develop and will continue to engage with relevant local partners should plans be progressed.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessments, including surveys, inspections and due diligence exercises, have been undertaken at Site A at MoD Bicester in connection with its proposed use as asylum accommodation.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
No final decision has been made regarding the use of Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation. The site remains subject to ongoing feasibility, planning, design, assurance and governance processes. The Home Office routinely undertakes due diligence when considering potential asylum accommodation sites, including assessments of suitability, deliverability, safety, security, planning considerations and impacts on local services and communities.
As part of this work, a range of surveys, inspections and technical assessments are undertaken as appropriate to inform decision-making. Feasibility work and initial surveys have been progressing as part of the assessment of the site. The Home Office first informed MOD of a proposal to potentially use MOD Bicester for Asylum Accommodation in November 2025.
The Home Office engages with relevant Government departments, local authorities, emergency services, health partners and other statutory stakeholders where appropriate as proposals develop. Operational Working Groups and stakeholder engagement activity have already taken place with local partners to support consideration of the proposal.
Throughout the development of potential accommodation sites, information is managed in accordance with normal Government requirements, including obligations relating to security, commercial sensitivity, policy development and procurement activity where applicable.
The Home Office keeps its asylum accommodation estate under regular review and works across Government to identify potential accommodation options. Consideration of individual sites forms part of that ongoing process.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any confidentiality requirements or restrictions on the disclosure of information have been issued in connection with proposals to use Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
No final decision has been made regarding the use of Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation. The site remains subject to ongoing feasibility, planning, design, assurance and governance processes. The Home Office routinely undertakes due diligence when considering potential asylum accommodation sites, including assessments of suitability, deliverability, safety, security, planning considerations and impacts on local services and communities.
As part of this work, a range of surveys, inspections and technical assessments are undertaken as appropriate to inform decision-making. Feasibility work and initial surveys have been progressing as part of the assessment of the site. The Home Office first informed MOD of a proposal to potentially use MOD Bicester for Asylum Accommodation in November 2025.
The Home Office engages with relevant Government departments, local authorities, emergency services, health partners and other statutory stakeholders where appropriate as proposals develop. Operational Working Groups and stakeholder engagement activity have already taken place with local partners to support consideration of the proposal.
Throughout the development of potential accommodation sites, information is managed in accordance with normal Government requirements, including obligations relating to security, commercial sensitivity, policy development and procurement activity where applicable.
The Home Office keeps its asylum accommodation estate under regular review and works across Government to identify potential accommodation options. Consideration of individual sites forms part of that ongoing process.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date her Department first considered Site A at MoD Bicester as a potential location for asylum accommodation.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
No final decision has been made regarding the use of Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation. The site remains subject to ongoing feasibility, planning, design, assurance and governance processes. The Home Office routinely undertakes due diligence when considering potential asylum accommodation sites, including assessments of suitability, deliverability, safety, security, planning considerations and impacts on local services and communities.
As part of this work, a range of surveys, inspections and technical assessments are undertaken as appropriate to inform decision-making. Feasibility work and initial surveys have been progressing as part of the assessment of the site. The Home Office first informed MOD of a proposal to potentially use MOD Bicester for Asylum Accommodation in November 2025.
The Home Office engages with relevant Government departments, local authorities, emergency services, health partners and other statutory stakeholders where appropriate as proposals develop. Operational Working Groups and stakeholder engagement activity have already taken place with local partners to support consideration of the proposal.
Throughout the development of potential accommodation sites, information is managed in accordance with normal Government requirements, including obligations relating to security, commercial sensitivity, policy development and procurement activity where applicable.
The Home Office keeps its asylum accommodation estate under regular review and works across Government to identify potential accommodation options. Consideration of individual sites forms part of that ongoing process.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether contracts have been awarded to companies to undertake assessments of Site A at MoD Bicester in connection with proposals for its use as asylum accommodation; and on what date the first such contract was awarded.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
No final decision has been made regarding the use of Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation. The site remains subject to ongoing feasibility, planning, design, assurance and governance processes. The Home Office routinely undertakes due diligence when considering potential asylum accommodation sites, including assessments of suitability, deliverability, safety, security, planning considerations and impacts on local services and communities.
As part of this work, a range of surveys, inspections and technical assessments are undertaken as appropriate to inform decision-making. Feasibility work and initial surveys have been progressing as part of the assessment of the site. The Home Office first informed MOD of a proposal to potentially use MOD Bicester for Asylum Accommodation in November 2025.
The Home Office engages with relevant Government departments, local authorities, emergency services, health partners and other statutory stakeholders where appropriate as proposals develop. Operational Working Groups and stakeholder engagement activity have already taken place with local partners to support consideration of the proposal.
Throughout the development of potential accommodation sites, information is managed in accordance with normal Government requirements, including obligations relating to security, commercial sensitivity, policy development and procurement activity where applicable.
The Home Office keeps its asylum accommodation estate under regular review and works across Government to identify potential accommodation options. Consideration of individual sites forms part of that ongoing process.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which organisations, agencies and public bodies were consulted by her Department in connection with proposals for the use of Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
No final decision has been made regarding the use of Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation. The site remains subject to ongoing feasibility, planning, design, assurance and governance processes. The Home Office routinely undertakes due diligence when considering potential asylum accommodation sites, including assessments of suitability, deliverability, safety, security, planning considerations and impacts on local services and communities.
As part of this work, a range of surveys, inspections and technical assessments are undertaken as appropriate to inform decision-making. Feasibility work and initial surveys have been progressing as part of the assessment of the site. The Home Office first informed MOD of a proposal to potentially use MOD Bicester for Asylum Accommodation in November 2025.
The Home Office engages with relevant Government departments, local authorities, emergency services, health partners and other statutory stakeholders where appropriate as proposals develop. Operational Working Groups and stakeholder engagement activity have already taken place with local partners to support consideration of the proposal.
Throughout the development of potential accommodation sites, information is managed in accordance with normal Government requirements, including obligations relating to security, commercial sensitivity, policy development and procurement activity where applicable.
The Home Office keeps its asylum accommodation estate under regular review and works across Government to identify potential accommodation options. Consideration of individual sites forms part of that ongoing process.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government intends to use a Crown Development Order in relation to proposals to use Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
The Home Office has submitted an application for Urgent Crown Development for the proposed large site at Bicester.
It is important to note that although the Home Office has submitted a planning application to obtain suitable planning permission, no final decision has been made or will be made until all relevant due diligence, including planning, has been completed and considered.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed use of Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation on policing resources in the Thames Valley Police area.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
No final decision has been made on whether to use Site A MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation. Suitability assessments are ongoing and will consider a range of factors including utilities, infrastructure, safety, security, operational deliverability, planning requirements, and the impact on local services and communities.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the capacity of utilities and infrastructure at Site A at MoD Bicester to support its proposed use as asylum accommodation.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
No final decision has been made on whether to use Site A MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation. Suitability assessments are ongoing and will consider a range of factors including utilities, infrastructure, safety, security, operational deliverability, planning requirements, and the impact on local services and communities.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what environmental assessments she has made in relation to the proposed use of Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
No final decision has been made on whether to use Site A MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation. Suitability assessments are ongoing and will consider a range of factors including utilities, infrastructure, safety, security, operational deliverability, planning requirements, and the impact on local services and communities.