Title

PLANNING

Asylum seekers moved from RAF Wethersfield due to incomplete safety checks

The Home Office has moved 70 people away from an asylum accommodation site after it failed to complete necessary safety checks on time.

The Home Office has moved 70 people away from an asylum accommodation site after it failed to complete necessary safety checks on time.

Asylum seekers were first moved onto the RAF Wethersfield site - a former airfield in Essex - in July.

The Home Office originally had permission to use the site as asylum accommodation until April 2024, but a special development order (SDO) made last month extended its use by three years, subject to conditions including ensuring there was an adequate supply of drinking water and obtaining a contamination report.

Although the SDO came into force last week, some conditions have not been met, meaning the Home Office does not have permission to house more than 580 asylum seekers at the site.

The Home Office has moved 70 people away and into hotels, while others remain.

A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘Wethersfield is safe for asylum seekers, and we are working at pace to ensure we abide by the conditions in the SDO.'

Braintree DC has legally challenged the Home Office's use of the site on several occasions.

PLANNING

Councils prepare for battle over asylum accommodation at military sites

By Joe Lepper | 10 September 2025

Councils at the centre of Government plans to increase the use of former military barracks to house asylum seekers have raised concerns over the strategy.

PLANNING

After the 'asylum hotels' injunction

By Victoria Searle | 02 September 2025

As the pressures facing local authorities in housing vulnerable people are brought to life in the ‘asylum hotel’ legal case in Epping Forest, Victoria Searle...

PLANNING

Embracing Reform

By Ann McGauran | 02 September 2025

Stephen Atkinson speaks to Ann McGauran ahead of Reform UK’s conference this week about the value of the Local Government Association, scrutinising council f...

PLANNING

HMOs become centre of latest asylum battle

By By Paul Marinko | 28 August 2025

Councils are being urged to tighten planning laws around Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) as the battle between government and local authorities over asy...

Popular articles by Ellie Ames