Almost 1,000 asylum seekers will shortly move into two disused military sites in the UK as part of Labour’s latest bid to end the use of migrant hotels in Britain.
Crowborough Training Camp in East Sussex and Cameron Barracks in Inverness will temporarily house around 900 men, the Home Office said, with work under way to identify more sites in the coming weeks.
Officials say the movement of migrants from hotels could substantially cut the annual £2.1bn cost of accommodation – which is forecast to reach £15.3bn by 2029.
But the decision to make use of military sites marks a change in approach for Labour, who had criticised the previous government’s reliance on barracks.
This system didn’t come without issues – there were complaints of overcrowding, “filthy” facilities and even outbreaks of disease.
And, as Labour veers towards military sites as a solution, there could be questions over whether they can realistically make a dent in the thousands of people being housed in hotels.
Here, we consider the challenges Labour may face – and whether the numbers add up.
How have military sites been used before?
The first large-scale example of a military site as asylum accommodation was Napier Barracks in Folkestone – which opened in September 2020.
The site, a former army barracks, was intended as a short-term measure but remains operational five years later, with closure planned for early 2026.
Meanwhile, in Essex, the RAF Wethersfield base began housing asylum seekers in 2023 and has since expanded to accommodate more than 1,200 people.
Other sites, such as Penally Training Camp near Tenby, Pembrokeshire, were used briefly during the pandemic before being closed in March 2021.
RAF Wethersfield first began housing asylum seekers in 2023 (Photo: Dan Kitwood/Getty)Plans to use RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire were abandoned before the site ever opened, despite around £60m being spent on preparatory work.
Former military sites are also used as processing centres.
An ex-RAF base in Manston, Kent has been used since 2022 to temporarily house migrants who have crossed the Channel before they are accommodated elsewhere.
Before 2020, the UK had used some former military land for immigration-related purposes, but not in the same way. Rather than dormitory-style housing, this was typically as processing and detention centres.
What challenges did they face?
Barracks used in the past to accommodate asylum seekers have faced a range of practical and legal issues.
The most notable example is Napier Barracks in Folkestone, which was described as “filthy” and “run down” after an inspection by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration in 2021.
The barracks also experienced an outbreak of Covid-19 that affected nearly half its residents, and there was criticism around inadequate access to healthcare.
Later in 2021, the High Court ruled that the Home Office’s use of Napier had been unlawful. It found that the site failed to meet “minimum standards” for asylum accommodation and exposed residents to a “real and immediate risk” of harm.
There were also issues noted at RAF Wethersfield in Essex, which opened in 2023.
RAF Scampton was seen as a potential site for asylum seekers, before being scrapped by the Labour Government last September (Photo: Callum Parke/PA)After a series of inspections and legal challenges, the High Court ruled in March 2025 that it was unlawful to accommodate three vulnerable men there.
The court heard evidence of isolation, poor access to medical care and the absence of suitable support for people with mental health needs.
A Home Office review acknowledged that conditions at Wethersfield were “challenging in the early months” but said that facilities, staffing and healthcare provision had since “significantly improved”.
Penally Camp in Pembrokeshire, which closed in 2021 after only six months of use, also faced problems.
Inspectors found poor ventilation, inadequate washing facilities and insufficient mental health support, concluding that the site was “unsuitable for long-term accommodation”.
In opposition, senior Labour figures were highly critical of the barracks model.
As Home Affairs Committee chair, Yvette Cooper called revelations about conditions at Napier “damning” and said “the department should be ashamed”.
The numbers that don’t add up
A major question when it comes to the use of military sites for asylum seekers is whether there is capacity to make a dent in the thousands housed at hotels.
There are around 32,000 asylum seekers still living in hotels across the UK, according to Home Office data. This is down from a peak of 56,000 in 2023 – but still higher than a year ago.
Labour plans to open two new military sites, which will initially provide accommodation for 900 men – less than three per cent of the total.
Ministers have said they ultimately hope to create 10,000 places on military or industrial land, though this appears to be in early stages.
Even if that target were achieved, the capacity would cover less than a third of those currently living in hotels.
These numbers suggest that military sites alone will not be enough to end hotel use, particularly as new small-boat arrivals – 36,900 so far this year, already more than the total for 2024 – continue to add to the system.
However, the new sites form part of a wider plan Government plan that includes faster asylum decisions, an expansion of dispersal housing with local councils, and the introduction of modular “pop-up” units designed for quick construction.
How Labour’s approach is different
While the broader idea of using government-owned sites to house asylum seekers remains, officials say Labour’s plan will differ from earlier models.
The Home Office says it has “learnt lessons” from Napier and Wethersfield, and will ensure new sites meet modern health and safety standards.
Modular or “pop-up” accommodation is expected to replace older dormitory blocks, allowing quicker construction and better conditions.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said the modular design follows the “rapid deployment” units used across the prison estate after the pandemic, which can be installed “much faster than would normally be the case”.
A Home Office spokesperson said that the department was “working closely with local authorities, property partners and across government so that we can accelerate delivery”.
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