The UK Home Office has confirmed that the first group of male asylum-seekers will be transferred to the disused army training camp in Crowborough, East Sussex, during the first weeks of January 2026. The decision is part of the government’s push to end the use of costly hotels for asylum accommodation, which currently house more than 36,000 people nationwide at an estimated cost of £8 million a day. Crowborough and a sister site near Inverness were identified earlier this year to provide a combined 900 bed spaces.
Local opposition remains fierce. More than 3,000 residents have marched through the town, and Wealden District Council has raised £50,000 for a potential judicial review, citing inadequate infrastructure and a lack of consultation. Ministers, however, insist that the barracks offer a quicker, cheaper alternative to hotels and will help restore public confidence in the asylum system.
From a global-mobility perspective, businesses that rely on international talent are watching the policy closely. Although the Crowborough site targets recent small-boat arrivals rather than work-permit holders, today’s announcement underscores the Home Office’s determination to reduce accommodation costs and accelerate decision-making. Faster asylum decisions could eventually ease pressure on case-workers who also handle work and family visa files, a long-standing pain-point for employers.
![Home Office set to move first asylum seekers to Crowborough barracks in January]()
For organisations navigating the UK’s wider immigration landscape—securing Skilled Worker permits for key hires, advising intra-company transferees or ensuring family-member compliance—VisaHQ offers a streamlined, tech-enabled solution. Its platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) simplifies document collection, tracks applications in real time and provides policy alerts, giving HR teams and relocating employees the clarity they need while the government’s approach to asylum and legal migration continues to evolve.
Practically, employers with operations in Kent and Sussex should anticipate heightened security and potential traffic disruption around the A26 when transfers begin. HR teams may also field questions from international staff about local sentiment toward migrants; clear internal communications and community-engagement programmes can help mitigate reputational risk.
The move signals the Starmer government’s broader strategy: deter irregular migration, free up resources, and re-focus the immigration system on legal, high-skill routes. With an election due by 2029, ministers are keen to show visible progress before the next summer cross-Channel season.
Local opposition remains fierce. More than 3,000 residents have marched through the town, and Wealden District Council has raised £50,000 for a potential judicial review, citing inadequate infrastructure and a lack of consultation. Ministers, however, insist that the barracks offer a quicker, cheaper alternative to hotels and will help restore public confidence in the asylum system.
From a global-mobility perspective, businesses that rely on international talent are watching the policy closely. Although the Crowborough site targets recent small-boat arrivals rather than work-permit holders, today’s announcement underscores the Home Office’s determination to reduce accommodation costs and accelerate decision-making. Faster asylum decisions could eventually ease pressure on case-workers who also handle work and family visa files, a long-standing pain-point for employers.
For organisations navigating the UK’s wider immigration landscape—securing Skilled Worker permits for key hires, advising intra-company transferees or ensuring family-member compliance—VisaHQ offers a streamlined, tech-enabled solution. Its platform (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) simplifies document collection, tracks applications in real time and provides policy alerts, giving HR teams and relocating employees the clarity they need while the government’s approach to asylum and legal migration continues to evolve.
Practically, employers with operations in Kent and Sussex should anticipate heightened security and potential traffic disruption around the A26 when transfers begin. HR teams may also field questions from international staff about local sentiment toward migrants; clear internal communications and community-engagement programmes can help mitigate reputational risk.
The move signals the Starmer government’s broader strategy: deter irregular migration, free up resources, and re-focus the immigration system on legal, high-skill routes. With an election due by 2029, ministers are keen to show visible progress before the next summer cross-Channel season.
