Crowborough Camp Asylum Plans Could Bypass Council

Plans to continue using a former military training camp in East Sussex to accommodate asylum seekers could be decided without Wealden District Council having the final say.

The Crowborough Training Camp has been used to house asylum seekers since plans were announced last year to accommodate up to 540 adult men at the site.

The Home Office is now seeking to extend its use of the camp until 2030.

Wealden District Council says it has been told the Home Office intends to apply directly to the Secretary of State for planning permission, rather than submitting an application for the council to determine.

The Home Office has not confirmed whether it plans to make an application directly to the Secretary of State.

The camp's use as asylum accommodation has been the subject of protests and legal challenges.

Council leader Rachel Millward said:

"I want to be clear that the council remains opposed to the Home Office's use of Crowborough Army Camp as asylum accommodation and its route to seek planning permission.

"Although the council will not determine this application, we will examine the proposals carefully, submit our views through the formal process and make sure local communities have clear information about how and when they can have their say."

The council says the Home Office intends to use the Urgent Crown Development procedure.

Under the government process, an appropriate authority can submit a planning application directly to the relevant Secretary of State.

It's designed to speed up decisions on applications involving an urgent need for nationally important development.

The Home Office said:

"We are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into alternative accommodation, including former military sites.

"We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, engaging with local authorities to reduce the impact on communities."