The Environmental Impact
At what cost to our countryside?
The Government wants to establish a large-scale asylum accommodation facility at MOD Bicester Site A, in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside, for at least ten years.
The proposed development raises serious questions about its potential impact on protected wildlife, local habitats, air quality, water resources and the surrounding rural environment.
We believe the environmental consequences of a development of this scale must be fully understood before it is allowed to proceed.
The Environmental Numbers
11,000
Litres of diesel per day – estimated
Potential daily fuel consumption associated with the proposed development.
4,000+
Vehicle movements per year – estimated
Potential annual tanker and delivery vehicle movements associated with fuel, wastewater and other essential services.
131
Great crested newt records
Records identified within 2km of the site in the revised ecological appraisal.
74
Bat records
Records identified within 2km of the site in the revised ecological appraisal.
A Development With a Significant Environmental Footprint
What will it take to power and maintain this site?
Operating a substantial accommodation facility in a rural location could require significant energy, transport and supporting infrastructure.
Questions remain about the potential reliance on diesel generators, fuel deliveries, wastewater removal and the movement of vehicles along surrounding rural roads.
The environmental implications could include:
- AIR QUALITY & EMISSIONS
What emissions could be generated by the site’s energy requirements, particularly if diesel generators are used?
- HEAVY VEHICLE MOVEMENTS
How many fuel tankers, service vehicles and deliveries will be required, and what impact could they have on local roads and the environment?
- NOISE & LIGHT POLLUTION
What would continuous site operations, security lighting and associated activity mean for surrounding habitats and wildlife?
- LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY
How does a development intended to operate for at least ten years align with wider environmental and sustainability objectives?
We believe these impacts should be properly quantified, assessed and explained before the development proceeds.
Our Wildlife Deserves Protection
The countryside surrounding MOD Bicester Site A supports a range of wildlife, including legally protected species.
Environmental information associated with the proposal has identified important ecological considerations.
The preliminary ecological appraisal highlighted potential bat-roosting opportunities in five buildings and 13 trees, alongside high suitability for bat commuting and foraging.
A revised ecological appraisal issued on 22 September 2026 also identified records of bats, great crested newts, badgers and otters within 2km of the site.
These records do not establish that all these species are present within the development footprint, but they demonstrate why careful ecological investigation is important.
Protected species and their habitats deserve proper consideration, supported by appropriate surveys and evidence.
We believe the Government must demonstrate that potential ecological impacts have been fully understood and that any necessary protections will be effective.
Serious Environmental Questions Remain Unanswered
Has the Government properly assessed the risks?
Beyond the potential impact on wildlife, there are important questions about the site’s infrastructure and environmental suitability.
WATER & WASTEWATER
How will wastewater generated by a development accommodating up to 1,256 people be managed?
What infrastructure will be required, and what evidence demonstrates that the proposed arrangements are adequate?
CONTAMINATION & SITE SAFETY
MOD Bicester Site A is a former military site.
We believe outstanding investigations into potential contamination must be properly completed and their findings considered before decisions are made.
DRAINAGE & FLOODING
What impact could the development have on existing drainage systems, surface water and the surrounding environment?
These are important questions, particularly for a substantial development in a rural location.
Environmental risks should be investigated before decisions are made – not simply assumed to be manageable.
Why No Full Environmental Assessment?
On 26 August 2026, the Government concluded that the proposed development did not require a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
We disagree with that decision.
Through Bicester Countryside and Communities CIC, we have launched a High Court legal challenge asking whether the Government acted lawfully when reaching that conclusion.
Our concerns include the adequacy of environmental information and the treatment of outstanding investigations into contamination, ecology and foul drainage.
An Environmental Impact Assessment is intended to help ensure that potentially significant environmental effects are properly identified and considered.
We believe a development of this scale, in this location, deserves thorough environmental scrutiny.
Our Countryside Deserves Answers.
The environmental consequences of the MOD Bicester Site A proposal could extend far beyond the boundaries of the development itself.
We’re calling for proper environmental scrutiny, greater transparency and clear evidence that the potential impacts have been adequately assessed.
Help us protect our countryside and demand accountability.