Asylum Seekers at Controversial Ex-RAF Base Set to Increase
The number of asylum seekers accommodated at Wethersfield, a former RAF base in Essex that has stirred considerable controversy, is poised to rise by over 200 individuals starting next week. Currently housing 560 migrants, the base’s capacity will expand from 580 to 800, a change expected to unfold over the next eight weeks.
Beginning next week, two cohorts of 30 men, aged between 18 and 65, will be transferred to the ex-military establishment. Most of the individuals residing at this site arrived via small boats crossing the English Channel, a troubling trend that continues to escalate.
Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, had previously vowed to close Wethersfield during the lead-up to the July elections, citing numerous issues at the site—including reports of violent altercations, scabies outbreaks, hunger strikes, and even suicide attempts since it began housing asylum seekers in July 2023.
Wethersfield has been a focal point in the ongoing conversation about the UK’s asylum system, with Starmer highlighting its need for closure given the alarming conditions reported there. The former RAF base has been accommodating asylum seekers since 2023, and its increasing capacity only raises further concerns.
Additionally, another ex-military location, RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, has been withdrawn from consideration for housing migrants, while the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset, which housed nearly 500 men, has also shut down.
Since Starmer assumed the role of Prime Minister last July, more than 25,000 individuals have crossed the Channel, underscoring the persistent crisis surrounding asylum seekers. Wethersfield is located within the constituency of James Cleverly, the former Home Secretary, who had previously expressed opposition to the use of this site for migrant housing.
The scheduled increase in capacity to 800 was confirmed during a recent meeting with the Home Office, attended by local parish councillors. Andrew Hull, chairman of the Wethersfield Airfield Scrutiny Committee (WASC), which comprises members from 13 parish councils, remarked, “Different government, same lies. You would assume, given the first opportunity, they would close the site down. But it seems, given the first opportunity, they’re actually doubling the capacity of it. It never has, it never will be value for money.”
Hull further criticized the Home Office for its lack of transparency regarding reports of potential contamination at the site, which could only be disclosed following a Freedom of Information request. Last year, The i Paper revealed that Home Office ministers had been repeatedly cautioned about the significant risks associated with housing migrants in former military barracks instead of hotels, contrary to claims that it would be a cost-effective measure.
Internal government memos have shown that senior Home Office officials expressed concerns regarding the cost and feasibility of using temporary modular accommodation for asylum seekers at both Wethersfield and Scampton.
Nick Godley, chair of the Wethersfield Parish Council, expressed frustration over the decision to raise the numbers at the site. He stated, “We’re also very cynical about whether this increase to 800 will actually happen, because in the past, whenever they’ve increased numbers much above where they are now, trouble starts because they can’t generally cope. There are very regular visits from the emergency services out there.”
Labour’s election manifesto previously committed to ending the use of asylum hotels, promising significant savings for taxpayers. However, this month, the top civil servant at the Home Office acknowledged that hotels would continue to be utilized for housing asylum seekers for up to four more years.
Wethersfield was initially designated to accommodate 1,700 migrants, referred to as “service users.” However, a special development order (SDO) issued last April limited its operational capacity to 800, with an additional surge capacity of 420 individuals. The Home Office secured planning permission to utilize the site for asylum seekers under 27 conditions, four of which pertained to the existing 800 migrant cap, which were still pending at the time.
During the recent meeting, parish councillors were informed that these conditions had now been lifted, allowing for a staged increase in the number of service users. The plan outlines that numbers will first rise to 650, followed by a subsequent increase to 725 before reaching the full capacity of 800. With 20 asylum seekers departing each week and 60 scheduled to arrive, it is anticipated that the increase to 800 will be achieved within the eight-week timeframe.
A Home Office spokesperson commented on the situation, stating, “This government inherited an asylum system in chaos with asylum accommodation under unprecedented strain. As part of our commitment to end the use of hotels, we are increasing capacity at Wethersfield to 800 beds. Reducing hotel use will minimize the impact asylum seekers have on our local communities and services, and help cut the astronomical cost of asylum accommodation. We continue to work closely with local community leaders in Braintree on our plans for the Wethersfield site, ensuring the safety and security of that local community remains our first priority.”
