MoD Bicester asylum housing plans challenged at High Court

Military base asylum plans challenged at High Court Image caption, The government plans to provide accommodation for up to 1,256 men at the site near Bicester By Ethan Gudge South of England Published 6 hours ago Campaigners against government plans to house asylum seekers at a former Ministry of Defence (MoD) site have taken their complaints to the High Court. The group Wrong Plan Wrong Site is appealing for a judicial review into Home Office proposals for the former MoD Bicester site in Oxfordshire. The plans, which the government is trying to fast-track using an Urgent Crown Development application, could see up to 1,256 men housed. But they have prompted a backlash locally, with Wrong Plan Wrong Site the first to submit an official legal challenge. In August, the government concluded an environmental assessment was unnecessary for the proposed development. But campaigners are now challenging that decision, with the group saying there were "credible concerns about potential significant environmental effects". The complaint was lodged with the High Court on Friday, and is backed by Cherwell District Council. Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The campaigners behind Wrong Plan Wrong Site have taken their complaints to the High Court The Home Office first made an Urgent Crown Development application regarding the site in July . The special procedure is used to fast-track applications deemed to be of "national importance", and involves an expedited consultation process on behalf of the Secretary of State. It later agreed to hold a short public consultation on the proposals, which local MP Calum Miller hailed at the time as a "win for democracy" . But campaigners said in "rushing" the plans through, the government had "failed to consider the potential environmental effects of the development". "We are not asking for special treatment," a spokesperson for the group said. "We are asking the government to demonstrate that it has followed the law and properly assessed the environmental consequences of a development of this scale and in this environmentally-sensitive location. "There are legitimate questions about its potential environmental impact, and those questions deserve clear, evidence-based answers, not a rushed job." Wrong Plan Wrong Site's legal submission comes a month after the village of Piddington symbolically voted to leave the UK over the MoD Bicester proposals . The Home Office declined to comment on the legal challenge, but previously said it was "closing every asylum hotel, saving taxpayers over £1bn on asylum support since the election". It added: "We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, moving asylum seekers into alternative accommodation, including former military sites which are designed to be self-contained to reduce impact on the local community." Get in touch Your Voice Contact form Contact form Related topics Refugees and asylum seekers Home Office Bicester More on this story Legal challenge over military base asylum plans Published 17 September Attempt to quash asylum housing plans over safety Published 14 October Government told to pay for extra asylum site policing Published 23 September