Guidance

Wethersfield: community update newsletter, June 2026

Updated 30 June 2026

This newsletter has been developed to help provide members of the local community with relevant updates on the site and address some frequently raise concerns.

We are grateful for the input of members of the Multi Agency Forum (MAF), which supports operational planning of the Wethersfield site, and consists of representatives from the Home Office, Braintree District Council, Essex County Council, Essex Police, Mid and South Essex NHS, Essex Fire & Rescue, East of England Strategic Migration Partnership, Migrant Help and the site’s contracted service provider, Clearsprings Ready Homes.

1. Site update

1.1 Site usage extension

The Home Office intend to extend usage of the site, subject to appropriate planning permission.

1.2 Occupancy

On 31 January 2025, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed that the conditions of the Special Development Order (SDO), which limited occupancy to 580 bedspaces, have been discharged. From this date, the Home Office has been able to gradually in a controlled manner increase regular occupancy

The site has 1,245 bedspaces. Until now, the regular occupancy cap has been 800 with 445 retained for contingency during the peak season, however the Home Office now intend to utilise all bedspaces at Wethersfield throughout the year.

2. Community impact

Dedicated internal and external stakeholder working groups continue to discuss areas of concern around the use of the site, while the feedback we receive directly from the community continues to drive valuable improvements to operational processes on site. This feedback has already helped further refine and strengthen the two-day induction that all new arrivals receive on arriving at Wethersfield.

Home Office officials, Clearsprings Ready Homes and Braintree District Council continue to work closely with Essex Police to improve communication with the local community.

3. Community safety

The safety and security of the local communities around the Wethersfield site is of paramount importance, with a specialist and experienced provider of security services permanently on site. Essex Police are closely and routinely consulted to ensure appropriate security arrangements are in place, and the Home Office has agreed a bid from Essex Police to cover their costs associated with Wethersfield.

If criminal activity occurs on site, Clearsprings Ready Homes have robust processes in place to report incidents to the police. As part of their induction process, clear expectations are set out to asylum seekers staying at the site about their expected behaviour whilst on and off the site. The induction process is continuously updated by the service provider to reflect any feedback we have received from the local community or other stakeholders on behavioural issues.

The site has a strict “no alcohol zone”, and we continue to ensure that the no alcohol rule is enforced.

The Essex Police website provides regular updates to communities across the area. If you require any further information, please use this resource.

4. Health provision and wellbeing

Extensive efforts continue to be made to minimise the impact on local health services and to facilitate primary health care on site. Primary (GP lead) health care is delivered on site Monday to Friday, through Home Office funding, by healthcare professionals who offer physical and mental health assessments, and who are able to prescribe medication and refer to alternative healthcare services if required.

Asylum seekers are registered with the on-site medical centre so that there is no need for them to register with other local GP practices. In the event of an individual attending or requiring medical treatment from hospital, they will be offered a follow up appointment at the on-site medical centre when they return if required.

5. Planning permission (Special Development Order -SDO)

The Home Office’s use of the Wethersfield site is governed by a Special Development Order (SDO), a type of secondary legislation granting planning permission, which was laid before Parliament on 21 March 2024 and which came into force on 11 April 2024. This SDO granted permission for the Home Office to use the site for accommodation until 10 April 2027. The Wethersfield SDO includes 27 conditions. Compliance with these conditions is regularly monitored by officials from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to assure there are no breaches of the Planning Permission

6. Contact

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Home Office Direct Communications Unit:

• through the Home Office website

• by telephone on 020 7035 4848

• by post to 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF.