Pressure is growing on the Government to publish the planning application and supporting evidence for the proposed asylum accommodation centre at MOD Bicester Site A.
Calum Miller MP has written to Matthew Pennycook, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, asking for the Urgent Crown Development application to be made public without further delay.
In his letter dated 6 August, Calum states that he was informed on 13 July that the Government intended to pursue the urgent planning route. More than three weeks later, he says the application had still not been published.
The letter asks the Minister to provide the application itself along with a range of supporting documents, including:
- the planning statement and supporting planning assessments;
- transport, heritage, environmental, habitat and flood-risk assessments;
- any Equality Impact Assessment;
- consultation responses received so far; and
- correspondence between the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Home Office relating to the application.
Calum has also asked the Government to confirm when the application was submitted, whether it was formally submitted as an urgent application, its current status and that no final decision has yet been taken.
The request reflects one of the central concerns of the Wrong Plan. Wrong Site. campaign: local residents cannot properly examine or respond to the proposal until the evidence supporting it is available.
At the same time, the campaign is not simply waiting for further information.
Wrong Plan. Wrong Site. is now exploring the options available for a potential judicial review of the Government’s approach. As part of that process, work is under way to establish the campaign as a Community Interest Company (CIC), which would provide a formal structure through which funds could be raised for professional and legal costs.
A similar structure has been used by campaigners challenging the use of Crowborough Training Camp for asylum accommodation.
No decision has been made to begin legal proceedings, and any challenge would depend upon the planning process, the evidence published and appropriate legal advice. However, the campaign believes it is important to prepare now rather than wait until after a final decision has been taken.
Wrong Plan. Wrong Site. continues to call for the Government to publish the full application and supporting evidence as soon as possible, giving local residents a genuine opportunity to understand the proposal and have their say.
