The UK government is facing backlash over plans to house up to 10,000 migrants at 14 locations across the country. A leaked Home Office document, marked “official sensitive,” shows that former military facilities have been identified for this purpose as part of a pledge to end the use of taxpayer‑funded asylum hotels by 2029. The initiative aims to cut the billions of pounds spent annually on migrant accommodation.
According to the document, the migrants would be placed in upgraded facilities and would be free to leave at any time, although the sites would be fenced. Two locations have already been confirmed: Cameron Barracks in Inverness and the Crowborough Army Training Camp in East Sussex. The Home Office also runs a shuttle‑bus service to nearby towns from a similar site in Wethersfield, Essex.
The plan has sparked concern among local residents. Hundreds protested in Crowborough against housing 600 asylum seekers at the disused base, carrying signs that read “Protect our children” and “Protect our community,” with some voicing fears for the safety of women and girls. Defence officials have acknowledged that using bases near residential areas is “problematic” and likely to meet “fierce resistance” from locals. Similar worries have been expressed in Inverness, where the proposed accommodation would be a short distance from the city centre.
Government data show that the Home Office is currently supporting around 103,000 migrants at public expense, including just over 32,000 housed in hotels. This year, more than 38,000 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats, surpassing the total recorded in 2024. The plan has significant implications for the UK’s migration policy, as the government seeks to reduce reliance on taxpayer‑funded asylum hotels. The use of former military facilities to house migrants remains contentious, and the government is likely to face continued opposition from residents and community groups as it moves forward.
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