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5d ago

Government Planning Shift of Asylum Seekers From Hotels to Military Sites

Military planners are embedded in border command to accelerate a shift from hotel accommodation after a fresh surge in Channel arrivals.

MP Shabana Mahmood who has been appointed to the role of Home Secretary leaves 10 Downing Street, during a reshuffle by the British government following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner in London, Britain, September 5, 2025. REUTERS/Jack Taylor/File Photo
GRAVELINES, FRANCE - AUGUST 12: Migrants wade into the sea in an attempt to board a small boat on August 12, 2025 in Gravelines, France. More than 50000 small boat migrants have now crossed the English Channel since Labour came to power last July. Last week the UK and France began implementing the so-called 'one-in, one-out' treaty, which was agreed during French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit last month, in an effort to curb illegal migration across the English Channel. Under the pilot scheme, a proportion of undocumented people arriving to the UK in small boats will be returned to France, in exchange for the same number of legitimate asylum seekers who may have family ties in the UK. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Defence Secretary John Healey said ministers are examining temporary use of military and non‑military sites and confirmed military planners are working inside border command.
  • New Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is reported to be preparing to close dozens of asylum hotels and unveil plans within days to move people into former barracks.
  • Reports say the UK is close to a ‘one in, one out’ returns arrangement with Germany, building on a pilot already operating with France.
  • An estimated 1,000 people arrived by small boat on Saturday, taking 2025 totals to a record pace, after a summer of protests outside hotels used for asylum accommodation.
  • Two ex‑military sites, MDP Wethersfield in Essex and Napier Barracks in Kent, are already in use, and Starmer has pressed for ending hotel use before the 2029 target, with one outlet reporting a recent court win over a local injunction in Epping.