What’s Happening:
The proposal for MOD Bicester Site A
The Home Office has now submitted an Urgent Crown Development planning application for the temporary use of MOD Bicester Site A as large-scale, non-detained asylum accommodation.
The application was validated on 2nd September 2026 and proposes accommodation for up to 1,256 people for a temporary period of 10 years.
The Government has now published its planning application, supporting statements, technical assessments and plans.
The public representation period runs from 7th–17th September 2026, during which residents and organisations can submit comments directly to the Government.
- LEGAL CHALLENGE NOW UNDERWAY
Legal action has been launched in relation to the MOD Bicester Site A proposal. Donations to the Legal Fund will help meet the costs of specialist legal and professional advice.
What is being proposed?
The Home Office has submitted a formal planning application for the phased provision of asylum accommodation at MOD Bicester Site A.
The proposal would accommodate up to 1,256 people and includes:
- New modular accommodation
- Retention and conversion of Building A6
- Demolition of existing buildings and structures
- Health and welfare facilities
- A wastewater treatment plant
- Roads and access ways
- Security infrastructure
- Parking and staff facilities
- Open space and recreational areas
The application seeks permission for the site to operate in this way for a temporary period of 10 years.
Detailed plans and technical assessments have now been published and are being reviewed by the campaign.
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.
MOD Site A
The proposed site to house 1,250 asylum seekers.
Piddington
Small village of 358 residents.
Blackthorn
Small village with amenities.
Ambrosden
Village with local amenities.
Arncott
1.5 miles from the proposed asylum accomodation centre, and the closest shop to the site.
Who is responsible for the proposal?
Home Office
Applicant responsible for bringing forward the proposal.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The Government department administering the Urgent Crown Development application process.
Secretary of State
Responsible for determining the planning application.
Local councils and statutory consultees
Able to submit representations and technical responses, but the final planning decision is not being made by Cherwell District Council.
Proposed capacity and timescale
Planning permission is being sought for a temporary period of 10 years.
The application describes the development as being delivered in phases, but important questions remain about how occupation would work in practice, including:
- When the site would first become operational
- How many people would arrive during each phase
- How quickly the site would reach full capacity
- The precise operational timetable
- The full cost of developing and running the site
The submitted application seeks permission for the phased provision of accommodation for up to 1,256 people at MOD Bicester Site A.
What is an Urgent Crown Development application?
Urgent Crown Development is a special planning route available where the Government considers development to be both nationally important and urgently required.
Unlike a normal planning application, the proposal does not go to the local planning authority for determination. Instead, the application is made directly to the Secretary of State.
The process is intended to allow nationally important Crown development to be determined more quickly than through the conventional planning system.
The Government has now published the planning application and a substantial collection of supporting evidence, including assessments covering transport, utilities, flooding, drainage, ecology, heritage, land condition, noise, air quality and equalities.
Wrong Plan Wrong Site is reviewing these documents in detail to test the assumptions made, identify weaknesses and establish whether the proposal satisfies the relevant planning and legal requirements.
What is already known?
The Government’s published application confirms that:
- The Home Office has formally applied for planning permission
- The site would accommodate up to 1,256 people
- Permission is being sought for 10 years
- Development would take place in phases
- New modular accommodation would be constructed
- Building A6 would be retained and converted
- Existing buildings and structures would be demolished
- Health and welfare facilities would be provided
- New roads, access ways and security infrastructure are proposed
- Parking, staff facilities and recreational areas are proposed
- A wastewater treatment plant forms part of the scheme
- Extensive technical assessments have now been published
What still needs answering?
Although significantly more information is now available, important questions remain, including:
- Whether the Government has demonstrated that Site A is a suitable location for development on this scale
- Whether the transport and access assumptions are realistic
- Whether infrastructure and local services can adequately support the proposal
- Whether environmental, drainage, flooding and land-condition risks have been properly addressed
- How the phased occupation of the site would work in practice
- When the site would become operational and how quickly capacity would increase
- What the full cost of constructing and operating the site would be
- Whether the proposal meets the planning and legal tests required under the Urgent Crown Development process
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.
2 September 2026
Formal planning application published
The Home Office’s Urgent Crown Development application for MOD Bicester Site A was validated. The Government published the planning application, supporting documents, technical assessments and plans.
7–17 September 2026
Public representation period
Residents, councils and other interested parties can submit representations directly to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Relevant material planning considerations raised during this period will be taken into account by the Secretary of State when determining the application.
16 September 2026
Pre-Action Protocol Letter sent
Bicester Countryside and Communities CIC’s solicitors sent a formal Pre-Action Protocol Letter to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, setting out an intended application for judicial review of the Government’s Environmental Impact Assessment screening decision.
The challenge raises three proposed grounds concerning reliance on future investigations and mitigation, the discrepancy between the development assessed and the development proposed, and questions around the functional separation required by the EIA Regulations.
Current position
The planning application has now been formally submitted and is awaiting determination.
Wrong Plan Wrong Site is now:
- Reviewing and challenging the Government’s published plans and technical evidence
- Supporting the formal legal challenge to the Environmental Impact Assessment screening decision
- Coordinating representations from residents and local organisations
- Gathering further technical and environmental evidence
- Raising funds for the specialist legal, planning and professional work required to challenge the proposal
The proposal has not been approved. There is still an opportunity to challenge the case being put forward and ensure local concerns are properly considered.
Why this matters now
The Government has now published its plans for MOD Bicester Site A and the formal planning process is underway.
This is a critical stage. The application must now withstand scrutiny from residents, councils, technical experts and the Secretary of State.
Wrong Plan Wrong Site is examining the evidence, coordinating the community response and preparing to challenge the proposal wherever there are legitimate grounds to do so.
Now is the time to make your voice heard.