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.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department was consulted by the Home Office on the potential road safety implications of proposals to accommodate asylum seekers at MoD Bicester, including impacts on the B4011 and the use of that route by high-sided vehicles seeking to avoid the height-restricted railway bridge on the A41.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Transport has not been consulted by the Home Office on the potential road safety implications of proposals to accommodate asylum seekers at MoD Bicester.

Local traffic management, including consideration of impacts on local roads such as the B4011, is a matter for the relevant local highway authority, Oxfordshire County Council. It would be for the Home Office, as the lead department for the proposals, to engage with the appropriate local authorities and other relevant bodies as necessary.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact on the security and operation of HMP Bullingdon of proposals to use Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service has not yet conducted an assessment concerning the repurposing of MoD Bicester (Site A). HMPPS will work with the Home Office to identify any potential implications for HMP Bullingdon and ensure mitigations are in place, if required.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what period he plans to give (a) local residents (b) the local planning authority and (c) relevant statutory consultees to respond to consultation under an Urgent Crown Development Order procedure before such an application is determined.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Town and Country Planning (Crown Development) (Urgent Applications) (Procedure) (England) Order 2025 sets out the procedure for determining Urgent Crown development applications.

Where the Secretary of State has published an application and notifies consultees, he will also publish the period within which representations must be made and notify consultees of that date.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reason his Department determined that proposals for the use of site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation should be considered under the Urgent Crown Development Order process.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The decision in question was taken having regard to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 13 February 2025 (HCWS454).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to monitor entry to and exit from Site A at MoD Bicester by residents and visitors under proposals to use 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. Due diligence and assurance work for all proposed large sites, including Bicester, is ongoing. Should the site be taken forward, appropriate arrangements for the safe and secure operation of the site, including arrangements relating to access and egress, would be put in place and overseen by the Home Office and its contracted service providers.

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 public rights of way and public access routes in the vicinity of the site.

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.

Due diligence and assurance work for all proposed large sites including Bicester is still ongoing. This work considers a range of factors relevant to the suitability and operation of a site. Any proposal would be subject to the relevant planning and approval processes, through which potential impacts on the local area, including public rights of way and public access routes would be considered before any final decision is taken.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any assessment undertaken in relation to the proposed use of Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation has identified the presence of asbestos or other contaminants.

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. Due diligence and assurance work for all proposed large sites including Bicester is still ongoing.

The Home Office will manage any asbestos on site adhering to the ‘Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012’ and the associated Approved Code Of Practice (L143 ACOPS).

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department made of the potential impact of the proposed use of MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation on Service Personnel, their families and Defence activity at the site.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

A robust assessment process was undertaken for MOD sites considered for use by the Home Office, including MOD Bicester, which considered a range of factors, including the impact on service personnel, their families, cadets, training and defence outputs. The assessment process also considered the cumulative impact on those areas, alongside the site-specific considerations. The assessment for MOD Bicester was that the impacts could be mitigated by relocating the equipment and activities that are currently on that site to other parts of the defence estate.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what screening, safeguarding and risk-assessment procedures will be applied before individuals seeking asylum are accommodated at Site A at MoD Bicester.

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, and no final decision will be taken until the necessary assessments, planning permissions and approvals have been completed and properly considered.

When a person claims asylum, the Home Office conducts mandatory identity and security checks. The biographic and biometric data are checked against relevant Home Office systems and police criminality databases including domestic and international data so we can establish whether the person is a threat to public safety and supports appropriate referrals to statutory agencies where required. The asylum screening part of the process is based on an interview aimed at establishing: any vulnerabilities, any threat to the UK/UK interest, their journey to/history in the UK and the basis of their claim.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of its ability to safely manage and operate asylum accommodation for up to 1,250 residents at Site A at MoD Bicester.

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. Due diligence and assurance work for all proposed large sites including Bicester is still ongoing. This work is informed by experience gained from operating existing large asylum accommodation sites and the lessons learned from those sites. Should the proposal proceed, the Home Office would work with an experienced accommodation provider and relevant local partners to ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for the safe and effective operation of the site.

Any decision to proceed would be subject to completion of the necessary assessments, approvals and planning process.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information relating to criminal convictions, safeguarding concerns or other relevant risk factors will be routinely shared with Thames Valley Police in respect of individuals prior to their accommodation at Site A at MoD Bicester.

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.

If the site is taken forward mandatory security checks will be conducted on all people seeking asylum through linking their biometric data to immigration, security, and criminality databases. The Home Office works closely with police and other statutory partners to identify and manage safeguarding and public protection concerns, and information is shared where appropriate and in accordance with legal and operational requirements.

The Home Office will continue to engage with Thames Valley Police whilst assessments continue.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what factors were taken into account in deciding that the proposed asylum accommodation at Site A at MoD Bicester should accommodate single adult males between the ages of 18 and 65.

Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

Decisions on potential accommodation sites are made on a site-by-site basis following appropriate assessment of factors including safety, suitability, operational feasibility and the local context.

The proposed accommodation model for MoD Bicester reflects the operational requirements of the asylum accommodation system and the profile of those currently requiring accommodation. Single adult males make up the majority of people seeking asylum who require accommodation support from the Home Office.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date (a) Oxfordshire County Council, (b) Cherwell District Council, (c) Thames Valley Police, (d) local NHS bodies and (e) other local public authorities were first informed of 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 engaged with local stakeholders regarding the proposed use of MoD Bicester prior to any public announcement. Engagement with Chief Executives of Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council took place on 25 June 2026. Engagement with Thames Valley Police took place on 18 June 2026. Engagement with relevant local NHS bodies is being taken forward as part of the wider operational planning and local partner engagement for the proposal.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date notice was served by his Department on the current occupants and users of the proposed asylum accommodation site at MoD Bicester.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Head of Establishment at MOD Bicester was engaged on proposals to use the site as asylum accommodation in November 2025. In addition, prior to the announcement on 25 June 2026, formal notice to vacate the site was given, in May 2026, to a business owner who leases several buildings on the site.

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.

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.

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.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what transport arrangements are proposed for residents accommodated at Site A at MoD Bicester to access healthcare, legal appointments, reporting requirements and other essential services.

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 safety, security, operational deliverability, planning requirements, and the impact on local services and communities.

If the site is taken forward, transport arrangements would be considered as part of operational planning and in discussion with relevant local partners.

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 local healthcare, dental and other essential services to support residents at Site A at MoD Bicester under proposals to use the site 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. If taken forward, extensive efforts will be made to minimise the impact on local health services and provision will be determined in discussion with health partners.

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Found: Letter dated 13/07/2026 from Matthew Pennycook MP to Calum Miller MP regarding an application by the