Planned asylum centre near Oxfordshire village to face legal challenge

The decision by Angela Rayner, the housing and communities secretary, to approve full planning permission has been welcomed by the Home Office, who want to end the use of asylum hotels. The vacant Ministry of Defence site would house over 1,200 detained asylum seekers, sparking significant opposition from local residents.

Village response

Tim McNally, the local parish council chair, confirmed villagers would take "many actions" against the plans. He told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme that ministers should "absolutely" be braced for a legal challenge, which would need to be lodged within the next six weeks.

The village previously made a symbolic attempt to declare independence from the rest of the country following a referendum of its 350 residents. McNally also mentioned that campaigners could apply the new Hillsborough law, which would create a legally enforceable duty of candour for public officials.

Government position

Luke Pollard, the defence minister, acknowledged the "strong sense of feeling from the community around Bicester, especially in Piddington." He stated that while the government continues to engage with locals, the project is not yet fully locked in and delivered. A Home Office spokesperson emphasized that a final decision to proceed had yet to be taken.

The spokesperson highlighted that the government is working on a "fairer distribution of asylum accommodation across the country, with over £1bn saved in costs since the election." They noted the proposed centres are designed to be self-contained with 24/7 security and CCTV to minimize impact on local communities.

Political reaction

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative party leader, criticized the plans as a "betrayal of the women of Piddington" and "emblematic of Labour and Angela Rayner's disregard for the law and women and girls' safety." She claimed the "1,000+ male migrants" are in Britain illegally and should be deported.