Council says East Sussex asylum camp bid will 'bypass' local decision-makers
A planning application to extend the use of Crowborough Army Camp as asylum accommodation is expected to ‘bypass’ local decision-makers, a council has said.
On Wednesday (September 2), Wealden District Council issued a statement saying it had been informed by the Home Office that it intends to seek permission to extend the use of the camp via an Urgent Crown Development Application.
Such applications are submitted directly to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and determined by its ministers under what the Home Office describes as “a streamlined planning process”.
In the statement, Wealden District Council leader Rachel Millward (Green) said: “I want to be clear that the council remains opposed to the Home Office’s use of Crowborough Army Camp as asylum accommodation and its route to seek planning permission.
“Although the council will not determine this application, we will examine the proposals carefully, submit our views through the formal process and make sure local communities have clear information about how and when they can have their say.”
At time of publication, no submissions linked to Crowborough Army Camp appears on the government’s published list of Urgent Crown Development Applications.
This list was last updated on Wednesday, adding an application seeking permission for an another aslyum accommodation development at a Ministry of Defence (MoD) site near Bicester, Oxfordshire.
The LDRS approached the Home Office to confirm whether it intends to submit an Urgent Crown Development Application in connection with Crowborough Army Camp.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into alternative accommodation, including former military sites.
“We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, engaging with local authorities to reduce the impact on communities.
“And we are reducing the burden on taxpayers, with asylum costs down by £1 billion since the general election.”
The Home Office statement also contained background information saying the government intends to extend the use of the Crowborough camp until 2030.The Home Office also says ‘no final decision has been taken on the site’s future use.’