UK approves 1,256-bed asylum centre despite village revolt
Communities Secretary Angela Rayner has granted full planning permission for an asylum centre housing 1,256 people at a former military barracks in Oxfordshire.
Communities Secretary Angela Rayner has granted full planning permission for a 1,256-bed asylum accommodation centre at a former Ministry of Defence site near Piddington in Oxfordshire. The decision allows the refurbishment and redevelopment of the former military barracks to proceed.
The scheme has sparked fierce local opposition, with residents staging a symbolic referendum in September where 285 people voted to secede from the UK and only 26 opposed. Campaigners had already launched High Court action to halt the plans.
The Home Office said the project is part of efforts to end the use of asylum hotels and save public funds, citing over £1bn in savings since the general election. The self-contained site will feature 24-hour security and CCTV, though the decision still faces a six-week legal challenge window.
Source: The Guardian
