Angela Rayner approves asylum centre near Piddington despite local opposition

Summarised from 7 outlets · 17 reports · Updated 14 Nov, 16:01 · Archive

Angela Rayner has approved planning permission for an asylum centre to house over 1,200 asylum seekers at a Ministry of Defence site near the Oxfordshire village of Piddington.

Angela Rayner, the housing and communities secretary, approved full planning permission on Thursday for an asylum centre at a former Ministry of Defence site near Piddington in Oxfordshire. The centre would accommodate between 1,200 and 1,256 asylum seekers, though the Home Office said final approval to proceed is still to be determined. The decision was welcomed by the Home Office, which wants to end the use of asylum hotels.

The planned facility is at MoD Bicester, situated near the village of Piddington, which has a population of around 300 to 350 people and no shops or facilities beyond a church and community hall. The site is next to Piddington Reserve, a field where children play football and locals walk their dogs.

Residents of the village have strongly opposed the plans. In September, 285 residents voted in favour of the village leaving the UK in a symbolic referendum, with only 26 voting against. The referendum was organised to demonstrate opposition to the proposals. Over 3,000 individuals submitted objections during the consultation period, according to one outlet, and local councils and the police and crime commissioner also formally objected.

Tim McNally, chair of the parish council, has warned the government to expect a legal challenge. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there would be 'many actions' by villagers and said ministers should 'absolutely' be braced for a legal challenge, which must be lodged within six weeks. Campaigners could also apply the new Hillsborough law, which would create a legally enforceable duty of candour compelling public officials to act transparently during investigations and inquiries.

Defence minister Luke Pollard defended the decision, saying the plans are an important part of efforts to close asylum hotels. He said he did not want any migrants housed in temporary accommodation but acknowledged it is necessary while reforms to the asylum system are ongoing. He told Sky News: 'Ideally, I don't want to have any temporary accommodation. So I want an asylum system that can process people quickly and get them out the door.'

Downing Street defended the plans, insisting the safety of the public is its top priority. A spokeswoman said such sites are 'designed to be self-contained with 24/7 security and CCTV to minimise the impact on the local community'. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said that more affluent areas of the UK must 'play their part' in housing asylum seekers.

The government's planning approval document assessed concerns about the safety of women and girls, perceptions of safety, community cohesion and policing demand, according to one outlet. Local police expressed concern over increased risk of crime and cited significant additional policing costs. Parish councillor Joe Marshall told BBC Newsnight that the quality of the application was poor and contained discrepancies, though he acknowledged the village had always expected approval. He noted there were 28 conditions to discharge relating to site viability. Conservative MP Greg Smith said the decision showed the government did not care about residents of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, and said he would work to explore ways to overturn the decision and ensure proper police protection.

How it is being reported

• Piddington villagers: We’ll use Andy Burnham’s own Hillsborough Law against himResidents of Piddington have vowed to use the Prime Minister's "cherished" Hillsborough Law against him after plans for a controversial asylum centre were approved. Chair of the Oxfordshire village's Parish Council, Tim McNally, argued that the Labour Government will be "complicit" if any crimes are committed by the asylum seekers being moved in. On Thursday, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner approved the plans for new asylum accommodation at the ex-MoD Bicester site. At least 1,250 male asylum seekers will be moved into the site, a decision which the village of Piddington has publicly fought…GB News · 14 Nov, 10:58
• Labour will always put mass migration before the safety of women and childrenPiddington is a quiet Oxfordshire village of just over 300 people. It has no school, no real shop – and, thanks to Angela Rayner, it will soon sit half a mile from a camp for more than 1,250 illegal migrant men. Ministers keep claiming that closing migrant hotels is a victory. But as Piddington shows, the alternatives may be even worse. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Putting illegal migrants into houses on residential streets, or into large camps next to tiny rural villages, is not a solution. When people said that they wanted asylum hotels closed, what they meant was that these people…GB News · 14 Nov, 09:33
• Piddington migrant camp DOES pose risk to women and girls, Government admits amid plans to install CCTVThe Piddington migrant camp does pose a risk to local women and girls, the Government has admitted. Earlier this week, Angela Rayner, the Housing Secretary, pushed through plans to parachute 1,256 undocumented migrant men on the Oxfordshire village's doorstep. Ever since the hugely controversial decision was unveiled, valiant villagers fought against the development, citing safety risks for women and girls. But the Labour minister ignored desperate pleas from every council, as well as the local police and crime commissioner, to bin off the plans for good. During the consultation, some 3,177…GB News · 13 Nov, 18:58
• Downing Street says safety ‘top priority’ amid Piddington asylum base fearsCommunities Secretary Angela Rayner has approved full planning permission for the Ministry of Defence site.Evening Standard · 13 Nov, 13:28
• Downing Street says safety ‘top priority’ amid Piddington asylum base fearsCommunities Secretary Angela Rayner has approved full planning permission for the Ministry of Defence site.Evening Standard · 13 Nov, 13:04
• WATCH: Piddington resident hits out at Labour 'betrayal' after asylum camp approvalA female Piddington resident has hit out at the Labour Government's "betrayal" after approving plans for asylum accommodation at Mod Bicester. Speaking to GB News, Gina Perkin said that if Prime Minister Andy Burnham "was listening" to the people of Piddington, the plans "would not have been approved". She told GB News National reporter Will Godley: "I'm very disappointed, I feel betrayed. It shows me that we are not living in a democracy. "We have voices and very valid concerns that have not been listened to. Multiple times the Government have said we are listening to the concerns, they…GB News · 13 Nov, 11:21
• Battle of Piddington: Government faces legal fight with Oxfordshire villagers over accommodation for 1,200 male asylum seekersCommunities Secretary Angela Rayner has approved full planning permission for the conversion of MoD Bicester just outside tiny villageEvening Standard · 13 Nov, 10:57
• Planned asylum centre near Oxfordshire village to face legal challengeParish council of village that declared independence from UK over centre says it will ‘absolutely’ launch legal action UK politics – live updates Ministers will face a legal challenge over plans to convert a Ministry of Defence site near the Oxfordshire village of Piddington into accommodation for more than 1,200 detained asylum seekers. It emerged on Thursday that Angela Rayner, the housing and communities secretary, has approved full planning permission , a decision welcomed by the Home Office, who want to end the use of asylum hotels. Continue reading...The Guardian · 13 Nov, 10:47
• 'This war isn't over yet': People of Piddington as they vow to fight on as Angela Rayner approves plans for migrant camp for 1,256 single males near their villageAngela Rayner last night approved proposals for the controversial camp at MoD Bicester, despite the village symbolically voting to leave the UK in protest.Daily Mail · 13 Nov, 09:26
• Minister explains why Labour approved asylum accommodation near PiddingtonDefence minister Luke Pollard said he did not want any migrants housed in temporary accommodation but that it is necessary while reforms to the asylum system are ongoingThe Mirror · 13 Nov, 09:15
• Piddington to launch legal action over government’s asylum seeker housing plansThe Government will face a legal challenge over plans to convert a Ministry of Defence site near the Oxfordshire village of Piddington into accommodation for more than 1,200 detained asylum seekers , the parish council chair says.The Independent · 13 Nov, 08:59
• Furious villagers and MPs warn Labour will be to blame for any migrant sex attacks after Piddington approvalLeader of Piddington Parish Council, Tim McNally, has declared that if there are "any sexual offences" committed in Piddington by asylum seekers, it will be "on Andy Burnham's head". The small Oxfordshire village, home to just 350 people, has been relentlessly fighting back against attempts to house migrants near their community. But Angela Rayner used emergency powers to grant planning permission for the site. Speaking on the decision, Mr McNally told The Sun: "I'm sorry, Andy Burnham, you're responsible for this. If any sexual violence happens, it will be on your head." Defence Minister…GB News · 13 Nov, 08:43
• Piddington will bring legal challenge over asylum base plans – parish councilCommunities Secretary Angela Rayner has approved full planning permission for the Ministry of Defence site.Evening Standard · 13 Nov, 08:25
• The great Piddington betrayal: Rayner presses ahead with plans for migrant camp - with villagers who voted to leave the UK in protest ignoredThe Housing Secretary gave the green light to plans to house up to 1,256 single male migrants at MoD Bicester in Oxfordshire.Daily Mail · 12 Nov, 23:32
• Asylum camp approved near Piddington village that voted to leave UK in protestTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page A new asylum camp has been approved near a village in rural Oxfordshire that ‘left the UK’ over the plans. Piddington held the vote in September as the…Metro · 12 Nov, 22:19
• Angela Rayner grants planning approval for asylum centre in Piddington despite local oppositionHome Office sign-off also needed for site that would house 1,200 asylum seekers near Oxfordshire village that voted to leave UK The communities secretary, Angela Rayner, has approved full planning permission for an asylum centre at a Ministry of Defence site near the village of Piddington in Oxfordshire. The decision approves plans to go ahead with the refurbishment and redevelopment of the former barracks. The Home Office insists that final approval is still to be determined. Continue reading...Guardian World · 12 Nov, 22:09
• Angela Rayner 'betrays people of Piddington' and approves illegal migrant campAngela Rayner has approved plans to house more than 1,200 illegal migrants at MoD Bicester as she was accused of "betraying" the people of Piddington. The small Oxfordshire village home to just 350 people has been relentlessly fighting back against attempts to house. But the Housing Secretary has today used emergency powers at her disposal to grant planning permission for the site. More to follow... TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Our Standards: The GB News Editorial CharterGB News · 12 Nov, 19:40

In this story: Angela Rayner · Piddington · Oxfordshire · Tim McNally · Andy Burnham · Luke Pollard · MoD Bicester · Home Office

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log