MoD Bicester (site A), Oxfordshire: factsheet
Updated 30 June 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-accommodation-at-military-sites-factsheets/mod-bicester-site-a-oxfordshire-factsheet
Version 1.0
June 2026
1. What is happening at MoD Bicester?
This site is no longer in active use buy the Ministry of Defence. The UK government is considering using this former military site to accommodate people seeking asylum. If taken forward, it would provide basic, safe accommodation and would be designed to be largely self‑sufficient to minimise any impact on the local community.
2. When would the site open?
This site is subject to detailed feasibility assessments, which could take several months to complete. During this period, some activity on site may be visible.
These assessments are routine exploratory work to understand the site’s potential and do not predetermine its future use. Any proposals would be subject to the necessary planning permissions and approvals.
3. How many people would be accommodated at MoD Bicester?
The Home Office does not give a live commentary on the number of asylum seekers accommodated at accommodation sites. The Home Office would take a phased approach to full occupancy, starting with smaller numbers at first.
4. How long will the site operate as asylum accommodation?
The site would be used for a minimum of 10 years. Making use of existing basic accommodation on MoD sites such as this site is just the first step in the government’s work to exit hotels and source more appropriate accommodation to meet our statutory obligations.
5. Who would run the site?
An experienced, specialist provider of asylum accommodation would be appointed to manage the site on behalf of the Home Office. They would be 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.
6. Who would reside at this site?
If deemed suitable, the site would accommodate single adult males between the ages of 18 and 65 who have applied for asylum. 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.
7. How will the Home Office ensure public safety and security on site?
The safety and security of the local community, the staff who work there and those accommodated on the site will be of the utmost importance. There will be a specialist and experienced provider of security services permanently on site 24/7, as well as security systems including CCTV monitoring and recording, if the site is taken forward.
The Home Office regularly works in collaboration with local authorities and other partners including 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.
If the site is taken forward, the Home Office would engage regularly with representatives from the relevant local authorities, NHS, police forces, and local partners via multi agency forums to address the concerns of those most impacted by the site and to identify ways to keep them informed.
8. Would vulnerable people be accommodated at this 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.
9. What health care provision will there be on site?
Extensive efforts will be made to minimise the impact on local health services and provision will be determined in discussion with health partners.
10. What facilities will there be on site?
The site will provide functional accommodation and would be designed to be as self-sufficient as possible including laundry facilities and communal spaces.
11. Would all those accommodated at MoD Bicester end up living in the local community?
No—asylum seekers would normally only be accommodated at the site during the initial processing stage of their asylum claims.
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 would not be detained, however the site would be 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.
[See full details of the conditions under which asylum-seekers receive accommodation support(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/withdrawal-of-asylum-support-where-a-breach-of-conditions-has-occurred-instruction).
13. How are standards of conduct set and enforced?
As part of induction processes, clear expectations would be set about behaviours. Induction processes will be 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 will be a strict “no alcohol zone”. If criminal activity occurs on site, the site’s service provider will have robust processes in place to report incidents of criminality to the police.
Everyone entering or leaving site would 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.
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.