Napier Barracks, Folkestone: factsheet
Published 22 October 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-accommodation-napier-barracks-folkestone/napier-barracks-folkestone-factsheet
Version 1.0
October 2025
1. What is the purpose of the Napier site?
The government has a statutory obligation to provide suitable accommodation to asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute. In order to meet the government’s commitment to closing all asylum hotels and cutting accommodation costs, officials are looking at a range of more appropriate sites so that we can reduce the impact on taxpayers and communities. Since coming to power, this government has also doubled the rate of asylum decision making and is speeding up processing times on appeals in order to reduce dependency on asylum accommodation.
The asylum accommodation site at Napier Barracks is based on the former MoD site located in Folkestone, Kent. It was identified by the Home Office under the former government as a surplus military site that was suitable to accommodate asylum seekers. Napier Barracks provides safe accommodation for asylum seekers and is designed to be as self-sufficient as possible. The Napier site began accommodating asylum seekers in September 2020.
2. Who runs the Napier site?
Napier is run by an experienced asylum accommodation provider who runs 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 needs.
The Home Office works closely with stakeholders, including local authorities, our contractors, health, police, and service providers, to ensure that the accommodation is suitable, safe, and functional.
3. Who resides at Napier and for how long?
The site accommodates single adult male asylum seekers between the ages of 18 and 65. They arrive at the site following checks against policing and immigration databases.
Upon arrival to the UK, all individuals are offered an initial health check before being transferred to onward accommodation, including short-term contingency accommodation such as Napier. The maximum duration of stay at Napier is 90 days.
On arrival, service users receive a briefing and orientation about the site and the local community, including sessions on anti-social behaviour and road safety. Asylum seekers at the site are not detained. The site is self-contained and essential services are provided on site to reduce the impact on local services. The process for leaving this site is the same as the rest of our asylum accommodation.
Full details of the conditions under which asylum seekers receive accommodation support can be found here: Conditions of support .
4. How is safety and security managed on site?
The safety and security of the local communities, the staff, and those accommodated on the site are of the utmost importance, with a specialist and experienced provider of security services permanently on site.
We work closely and routinely with Kent 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 engages regularly with representatives from the local authority, the NHS, the Police, and local partners to address the concerns of those most impacted by the site and to identify ways to keep them informed.
5. 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 be accommodated at Napier, 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 accommodation (publishing.service.gov.uk).
6. What health care provision is there on site?
Extensive efforts have been made to minimise the impact on local health services and facilitate primary health care on site.
Primary medical care is delivered on site Monday to Thursday by a healthcare professional who offers physical and mental health assessments. They are able to prescribe some medication and refer to onward alternative healthcare services if required. Asylum seekers are registered with their local GP practice.
Procedures are in place to support individuals with potential symptoms of an infectious disease, including isolation (single occupancy) spaces on site. The local UKHSA Health Protection Team provides advice and guidance on the management of individuals and contacts with a suspected infectious disease or outbreaks. Individuals will be isolated where this is advised, and pathways are in place to safely manage the transfer of the individual into appropriate accommodation with ongoing care provided.
7. Can asylum seekers travel to local communities?
A shuttle bus service is provided twice daily between Monday and Friday to Folkestone. Transport is also provided where necessary to enable access to health 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 and volunteering for asylum seekers).
8. 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. Non-governmental organisations organise and provide supplementary activities 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.
Translated Migrant Help ‘Asylum Advice’ and ‘Asylum Services’ booklets are provided to asylum seekers at induction, alongside translated Home Office ‘Rights and Expectations in the UK’ booklets.
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.
9. What is the status of the Special Development Order (SDO)?
Planning consent was granted via a Special Development order on 26th August 2021 by the then-Secretary of State for the Home Office which came into force on the 21st September 2021. Planning is in place until 20th Sep 2026.
10. What have the HO done to make the site safe?
Work has been undertaken to ensure the site meets all the requisite health and safety standards and legislation.
Our service provider has operational management plans and risk registers, to ensure that health and safety best practices and legal requirements are followed and complied with, and that potential risks that arise are recorded with appropriate mitigation and remedial action taken. They conduct regular checks of the site to ensure the site continues to be safe and functional for the asylum seekers accommodated there, and for those providing services and support on the site.
11. How long do you intend to use this site?
The Home Office plan to complete site decant by the end of December 2025 and hand back the Napier site to the MoD in January 2026, ahead of onward transfer to a Housing Developer who has purchased the site in March 2026.