UK to close 20 asylum hotels, convert three former barracks

The UK government is accelerating its plan to house asylum seekers in former military barracks, announcing the closure of 20 more asylum hotels and the identification of three new sites for conversion. The announcement was made on Thursday, June 25, 2026, as officials seek planning permission for Ministry of Defence facilities in Bicester, Oxfordshire; Barnham, Suffolk; and Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire. These three sites are intended to eventually accommodate approximately 3,750 people.

This move represents a significant expansion of the government's existing policy of using large-scale, basic accommodation as an alternative to hotels. The use of the Wethersfield site in Essex will be extended beyond 2027 and its capacity increased from about 800 to over 1,200 bed spaces. The use of the Crowborough camp in East Sussex will be extended until 2030.

Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris stated that the government is delivering on its promise to close asylum hotels and return them to communities. He said hotel numbers have more than halved from their peak, with just under 170 now in use compared to a previous high of 400. The closure of the 20 hotels announced Thursday...