The Home Office has confirmed that two former army facilities—Cameron Barracks in Inverness, Scotland, and Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex—will be converted into temporary accommodation for about 900 single men who arrived in the UK to claim asylum. Ministers say the first transfers will begin in early December, with residents expected to stay for up to 12 months before being dispersed to longer-term housing.
The move is presented as a key step in ending the use of hotels, which peaked at 56,000 occupants in 2023 and are still costing taxpayers roughly £2.1 billion a year. Defence Minister Luke Pollard told Sky News that barracks offer “adequate, secure accommodation at a lower cost in many cases than hotels,” although the National Audit Office previously found some military sites more expensive on a per-head basis.
Human-rights groups warn that remote locations and dormitory-style living risk isolating vulnerable people and hindering access to legal advice and medical care. Napier Barracks in Kent—used between 2020 and 2022—was criticised by inspectors for overcrowding and poor ventilation. The government insists lessons have been learned, promising on-site healthcare, legal clinics and Wi-Fi to facilitate online asylum interviews.
For employers that rely on migrant labour, the change has indirect implications. Faster clearance of hotel spaces could free up scarce accommodation in urban centres where seasonal and care-sector workers are housed. Conversely, the relocation may lengthen asylum processing times if claimants struggle to reach solicitors or Home Office appointments, undermining efforts to cut the current 196-day average decision time.
Businesses should monitor local authority responses: planning permission is being fast-tracked under emergency powers, but councils can still impose conditions on transport links and community-integration plans. Companies that provide services—from catering to security—have a fresh procurement opportunity but must meet strict safeguarding requirements introduced after previous contract failures.
The move is presented as a key step in ending the use of hotels, which peaked at 56,000 occupants in 2023 and are still costing taxpayers roughly £2.1 billion a year. Defence Minister Luke Pollard told Sky News that barracks offer “adequate, secure accommodation at a lower cost in many cases than hotels,” although the National Audit Office previously found some military sites more expensive on a per-head basis.
Human-rights groups warn that remote locations and dormitory-style living risk isolating vulnerable people and hindering access to legal advice and medical care. Napier Barracks in Kent—used between 2020 and 2022—was criticised by inspectors for overcrowding and poor ventilation. The government insists lessons have been learned, promising on-site healthcare, legal clinics and Wi-Fi to facilitate online asylum interviews.
For employers that rely on migrant labour, the change has indirect implications. Faster clearance of hotel spaces could free up scarce accommodation in urban centres where seasonal and care-sector workers are housed. Conversely, the relocation may lengthen asylum processing times if claimants struggle to reach solicitors or Home Office appointments, undermining efforts to cut the current 196-day average decision time.
Businesses should monitor local authority responses: planning permission is being fast-tracked under emergency powers, but councils can still impose conditions on transport links and community-integration plans. Companies that provide services—from catering to security—have a fresh procurement opportunity but must meet strict safeguarding requirements introduced after previous contract failures.
