What’s Happening:
The proposal for MOD Bicester Site A
The Home Office is proposing to establish a large-scale asylum accommodation centre at MOD Bicester Site A, south-west of Bicester.
The proposal is understood to involve accommodation for approximately 1,250 single adult male asylum seekers on a former military storage and logistics site. The Government intends to progress the proposal through an Urgent Crown Development planning process.
This page explains what is currently known, what remains undecided and how the proposal has developed.
What is being proposed?
The Home Office proposes to convert or redevelop part of MOD Bicester Site A for use as asylum accommodation.
According to the information published so far:
The site could accommodate approximately 1,250 residents.
Residents would be single adult men seeking asylum.
Occupation may be introduced in phases.
The centre is intended to be largely self-contained.
The proposed use could continue for at least ten years.
Detailed information about how the site would be converted, which buildings would be used and what new infrastructure would be required has not yet been made publicly available.
Where is Site A?
MOD Bicester Site A is a former military storage and logistics site situated to the south-west of Bicester.
It lies between Piddington and Arncott, close to the B4011, Widnell Lane, Palmer Avenue and HMP Bullingdon. The surrounding area is predominantly rural, with nearby villages including Ambrosden, Blackthorn and Piddington.
The nearest major town is Bicester, but the site itself is outside the town and has limited pedestrian and public transport connections.
Central Bicester
The closest town to the proposed site.
Arncott
1.5 miles from the proposed asylum accomodation centre, and the closest shop to the site.
MOD Site A
The proposed site to house 1,250 asylum seekers.
Piddington
Small village of 358 residents.
Who is responsible for the proposal?
Home Office
Leading the proposal and responsible for asylum accommodation.
Ministry of Defence / Defence Infrastructure Organisation
Responsible for the land and site-related information.
Planning Inspectorate / relevant Government department
Responsible for considering the Crown Development application.
Local councils and service providers
May provide evidence and consultation responses but are not proposing the scheme.
Proposed capacity and timescale
The Government has said that occupation would be phased, although a detailed opening timetable and phasing plan have not yet been published.
The Government’s factsheet also states that the site could be used for at least ten years.
At present, the campaign has not identified publicly available confirmation of:
- The proposed opening date
- The number of residents in each phase
- How quickly the site would reach full capacity
- Which buildings would be occupied
- What construction or conversion work would be required
- The full expected cost
- The long-term arrangements once the proposed period ends
These remain important unanswered questions.
The proposal is currently understood to involve accommodation for approximately 1,250 people.
What is an Urgent Crown Development application?
The Government is seeking to use an Urgent Crown Development process.
Crown Development procedures allow Government departments to seek planning permission for development on Crown land. The urgent route is intended for proposals considered both nationally important and genuinely urgent.
The campaign believes the Government should clearly explain:
- Why this particular development is nationally important
- Why the proposal is now considered urgent
- What evidence supports the need for the development
- What alternative sites were considered
- How local communities will be consulted
- How much time residents will have to review and respond to the evidence
- How the final decision will be made
The campaign’s review says that important documents had not yet been identified publicly, including formal statements explaining urgency and national importance, a transport assessment, utilities report, health impact assessment, equality assessment and environmental documentation.
What is already known?
The information currently available includes:
- The location of Site A
- The approximate proposed capacity
- The intended use as asylum accommodation
- The involvement of the Home Office and Ministry of Defence
- The proposed use of an Urgent Crown Development process
- The site’s historic military use
- The history of an earlier asylum accommodation proposal
- Some historic planning and technical information
The report prepared by the campaign brings together Government announcements, historic planning records, previous site assessments, Freedom of Information material and other publicly available research.
What remains unknown?
As of early August, the campaign has not identified complete public information covering:
- Site design and buildings
- Transport and access
- Infrastructure and public services
- Environment and land condition
- Cost, operation and consultation
The absence of published evidence does not automatically prove that assessments have not been undertaken. It means the community cannot yet review or independently assess them.
This distinction is important. The campaign is asking the Government to publish the evidence before any final decision is made.
Timeline: How did we get here?
Early 2000s
The Government previously proposed a large asylum accommodation centre at MOD Bicester Site A.
That proposal was examined through a public inquiry and considered in detail by a Planning Inspector. Legal proceedings later followed, and the development ultimately did not proceed.
November 2025
The Ministry of Defence was reportedly informed that the Home Office wished to consider Site A for asylum accommodation.
25 June 2026
Local authorities and elected representatives were informed of the new proposal.
26 June 2026
The proposal began receiving wider public and parliamentary attention, with questions raised about site selection, consultation and the information available to local communities.
30 June 2026
The Government updated its public factsheet for MOD Bicester Site A.
July 2026
It became clear that the Government intended to use an Urgent Crown Development process.
Local meetings were held, questions were raised by councillors and MPs, and residents began organising a coordinated community response.
July–August 2026
The Wrong Plan. Wrong Site. campaign brought together community volunteers to gather evidence, submit information requests, examine the planning process and prepare for a possible legal challenge.
Current position
The proposal has not yet received final approval.
The campaign is continuing to:
- Gather and review evidence
- Press for missing documents to be published
- Seek meaningful public consultation
- Examine the planning and legal process
- Keep local communities informed
- Prepare a coordinated response
Why this matters now
The Government must decide whether MOD Bicester Site A is a safe, suitable and properly evidenced location for a development of this scale.
The community should not be expected to accept the proposal before the supporting information has been published and properly examined.
Wrong Plan. Wrong Site. is a community-led, non-political campaign. We are asking for transparency, evidence, proper planning and a meaningful voice for the communities affected.