Guidance

Crowborough Training Camp, East Sussex: factsheet

Updated 30 June 2026

Version 3.0

June 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. How many people are accommodated at Crowborough?

The Home Office does not give a live commentary on the number of asylum seekers accommodated at accommodation sites. Following the first arrivals in January 2026, the Home Office is implementing a phased and gradual approach to reaching full capacity of 540 asylum seekers.

3. How long will Crowborough operate as asylum accommodation?

The Home Office has been given permission by the Ministry of Defence to extend usage of the site until January 2030 subject to appropriate planning permission. This remains a 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.

4. Who runs the Crowborough site?

Clearsprings Ready Homes, an experienced specialist in asylum accommodation services, has been appointed by the Home Office to manage the site. They are responsible for ensuring the safe and secure operation of the accommodation and for providing wraparound support that meets the essential health and wellbeing needs of the asylum seekers.

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

5. 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 against policing and immigration databases. The majority of illegal migrants claiming asylum in the UK are single adult males.

6. How do the Home Office ensure public safety and security?

The safety and security of the local community, the staff who work there and those accommodated on the site is of the utmost importance. There is a specialist and experienced provider of security services permanently on site 24/7, as well as security systems including CCTV monitoring and recording.

The Home Office regularly works in collaboration with local authorities and other partners including Sussex police to ensure that accommodation sites are successfully managed and the impact upon the local community is minimised.  This includes a comprehensive and ongoing approach to identifying and managing any public protection or safeguarding risks associated with individuals.

Mandatory security checks are conducted on all people seeking asylum 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. These checks are critical to the delivery of a safe and secure immigration system.

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.

7. 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.

8. What health care provision is there on site?

Healthcare provision on site is funded by the Home Office and is delivered by a primary care service provider 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.

Access to dental services is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Individuals are triaged through the NHS 111 service according to clinical need, and those requiring urgent or emergency treatment are referred for an appointment with a dental provider. Dental services are not provided on site.

9. Can asylum seekers travel to local communities?

Transport is provided where necessary to enable access to services not available on site, and to assist asylum seekers who have been given the opportunity to volunteer within the local community (see here Permission to work & volunteering for asylum seekers)

10. What facilities are there on site?

The site provides functional accommodation and is designed to be as self-sufficient as possible. There are laundry facilities, communal spaces, faith and worship facilities, and areas for recreational and sporting activity to take place on site. All asylum seekers can contact Migrant Help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year if they need help, advice, or guidance, that includes raising issues relating to safeguarding. Migrant Help also offer face-to-face appointments to asylum seekers on site allowing them to raise any questions they may have.

Translated Migrant Help ‘Asylum Advice’ and ‘Asylum Services’ booklets are provided to asylum seekers at their induction, alongside translated Home Office ‘Rights and Expectations in the UK’ booklets. Asylum seekers are provided with a list of legal representatives and Migrant Help continues to signpost asylum seekers to Immigration Legal Advisors. Legal representatives are, by appointment, permitted to visit the site for meetings with asylum seekers, including out-of-hours visits where required. Private meeting spaces and relevant equipment are provided.

11. Will all those accommodated at Crowborough end up living in the local community?

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

12. 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.

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

14. 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.

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

Local residents should report any incidents related to the 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.

16. 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. In parallel, the Home Office is maintaining ongoing engagement with the Cadet Forces. The other Cadet Forces are continuing to assess alternative locations. We fully recognise the value cadets bring to the local community and the importance of ensuring these activities continue with minimal disruption.