Guidance

Crowborough Training Camp, East Sussex: factsheet

Updated 22 January 2026

January 2026

1. What is happening with the Crowborough site?

The Crowborough site began accommodating asylum seekers from 22 January 2026.

The Crowborough site provides basic, safe accommodation for asylum seekers and is designed to be as self-sufficient as possible. The site was recently used as transitional accommodation for the Afghan Resettlement Programme.

The Home Office works closely with local authorities, police, and community partners to ensure the site operates safely and respectfully, with robust measures in place to support community cohesion and maintain public safety at all times.

2. Why is the government using military sites?

The UK government has a statutory obligation to support asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. 

The government is determined to restore order to the asylum system so that it operates swiftly, firmly, and fairly; and ensures the rules are properly enforced. We have committed to exiting hotels at the earliest opportunity, and in order to do this we need to stand up alternative accommodation which is better suited to this purpose.

3. Who resides at the Crowborough site?

The site accommodates single adult male asylum seekers between the ages of 18 and 65. Asylum seekers arrive at the site following initial screening checks. The majority of illegal migrants claiming asylum in the UK are single adult males.

4. As many of the proposed cohort would have arrived in the UK by an illegal route, why are they not detained?

In accordance with current legislation, people with a valid pending claim for asylum are permitted to remain in the UK while their claim is being processed, and as they have permission to remain in the UK during that time, they cannot be routinely detained. Detention is primarily used to facilitate removal of those who have no lawful right to remain in the UK, and who refuse to leave voluntarily.

Asylum seekers at the site are not detained, however the site is self-contained as essential services are provided on site to reduce the impact on local services through reducing the need for asylum seekers to leave the site.

We work with local voluntary organisations and faith groups to broaden on-site activities, with a view to providing an environment that encourages asylum seekers to remain on site for their needs.

If asylum seekers need help, advice, or guidance, they can contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Full details of the conditions under which asylum-seekers receive accommodation support can be found here: Conditions of support instruction

5. How are standards of conduct set and enforced?

As part of the induction process, clear expectations are set about behaviours whilst on and off site. The induction process is continuously updated by the service provider managing the site to reflect any feedback we receive from the local community or other stakeholders on behavioural issues. The site is a strict “no alcohol zone”, and we will continue to ensure that the no alcohol rule on site is enforced. If criminal activity occurs on site, the site’s service provider has robust processes in place to report incidents of criminality to the police.

Everyone entering or leaving site will be required to sign in and out at the front gate. This process will be managed by the service provider’s security team and overseen by the Home Office Assurance team, who are also based on site.

6. How will the Home Office ensure public safety?

Public safety remains our first priority, which is why mandatory security checks are conducted on all asylum seekers through linking their biometric data to immigration, security and criminality databases.

This includes criminality checks for, amongst other things, convictions, pending prosecutions, wanted or missing reports as well as fingerprints and photographs.

7. How are safety and security implemented on site? 

The safety and security of local communities around the site, the staff who work there and those accommodated on the site are of the utmost importance, with a specialist and experienced provider of security services permanently on site 24/7.

We work closely and routinely with Sussex Police to ensure appropriate security arrangements are in place for the safety and security of the asylum seekers and the wider community.

The Home Office also maintains regular engagement with representatives from the local authority, the NHS, the Police, and local partners, including via Multi Agency Forums to address the concerns of those most impacted by the site and to identify ways to keep them informed.

8. Who runs the Crowborough site?

An experienced, specialist asylum accommodation service provider has been appointed to manage the site on behalf of the Home Office. They are responsible for managing asylum seeker accommodation in a safe and secure manner, and providing wraparound support designed to meet asylum seekers essential health and wellbeing needs.

The Home Office works closely with various stakeholders to ensure accommodation is adequate, and functional.

9. Will vulnerable people be accommodated at the site? 

Asylum seekers are allocated accommodation on a no choice basis, in line with Home Office published policy. If an individual’s needs cannot be met on site, and they are assessed as unsuitable to remain on site, they will be moved/allocated to alternative accommodation.

Evidence about the needs of particular individuals is assessed in line with the criteria published here: Allocation of asylum accommodation policy

10. How many people are accommodated at the Crowborough site?

The first 27 migrants have moved into the site, which will be scaled up to more than 500. The initial intakes will be low in numbers and gradual, taking a phased and incremental approach to full occupancy.

11. Are asylum seekers registered at a GP surgery, and is healthcare provided on site?

Healthcare provision on site is funded by the Home Office and will be delivered by a primary care network within the NHS.

We have worked closely with local health partners to minimise the impact on the community and deliver routine healthcare services directly on site, reducing reliance on local GP practices. This approach will minimise pressure on existing NHS resources.

Asylum seekers will be registered with a GP as part of the onsite initial health check process. They will only attend an offsite GP practice if they require further treatment that cannot be provided by the onsite service. This will minimise the impact the site has on GP appointment availability at the local GP practices.

12. How long is the Crowborough site being used for asylum accommodation?

This is temporary arrangement; we intend to return the site to MoD at which point it would cease to be used as asylum accommodation.

Making use of existing basic accommodation on MoD sites such as the Crowborough site is just the first step in the government’s work to exit hotels and source more appropriate accommodation to meet our statutory obligations.

13. What are the future arrangements for the Cadets currently using the site?

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) continues to support local Cadet Forces in identifying and securing alternative training locations. The Army Cadets, No 8 Crowborough Detachment, are now parading twice a week at a community site in Crowborough. The other Cadet Forces are assessing alternative locations. We fully recognise the value cadets bring to the local community and the importance of ensuring these activities continue with minimal disruption. 

14. Will all the asylum seekers end up living in the local town?

No - asylum seekers are only accommodated at the Crowborough site during the initial processing stage of their claim.

15. Will there be an increased police presence in Crowborough, and will there be police officers permanently based in the Crowborough site when it opens?

The Home Office is working with Sussex Police to ensure the correct level of policing support is in place. As per other large sites, there is also security 24/7 and security systems including CCTV monitoring and recording.

16. Will asylum seekers receive a mobile phone?

The Home Office does not provide asylum seekers with a mobile phone. Additionally, the Home Office does not provide clothing, although they may receive clothing or other items which are donated via charities.

Find more information about the support asylum seekers are provided, via the following link: Asylum support: Overview

17. How can the local community report incidents related to the Crowborough site?

Local residents should report any incidents related to the Crowborough site through the usual channels. For emergencies, call 999 for Police, Fire & Rescue, or Ambulance. For non-emergencies, dial 101. Any incidents on site will be managed by the service provider and Home Office Assurance and Oversight team.