Stop plans for MOD Bicester

The Labour Government have announced plans to house 1,250 men seeking asylum at MOD Bicester. These plans were made in secret and the local community were not consulted before the announcement.

These plans do not consider the local villages of Piddington, Arncott, Blackthorn, and Ambrosden. The proposed site does not have any facilities for the people to live there, and there is not even a path for people to walk to local services.

That is why I'm working with the communities, local councillors, and representatives from across the political spectrum to stand up for Bicester and work towards a solution that considers both the people seeking asylum and local residents.

I'm grateful to the community group Wrong Plan. Wrong Site. who are leading the campaign to stop these plans. Please check their website for the latest updates and ways you can get involved.

Timeline of my actions (from newest):

23 October

“Wrong Plan. Wrong Site.” launched a High Court challenge to the Government’s decision not to require a full environmental impact assessment for its plans at MOD Bicester. On the same day I wrote to Matthew Pennycook MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning, asking him to confirm that no decision will be made on the planning application until the judicial review proceedings have concluded.

19 October

I wrote to the Home Office and Treasury calling for proper scrutiny of the costs and risks before any contracts are signed. Having worked at the Treasury, I do not believe the evidence published so far justifies this spending.

16 October

I wrote to Emma Reynolds, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, challenging the financial case for the proposal and calling for proper scrutiny of the costs and risks before any contracts are signed.

15 October

I added amendments to the Immigration and Asylum Bill (NC 30 and 31) that would require the Government to publish assessments of large sites’ suitability, impact on local communities and full costs compared with alternatives.

14 October

I condemned the Government’s proposal in a debate in the House of Commons, arguing that it is wrong for local communities in my constituency, wrong for asylum seekers, and wrong for the taxpayer. 

24 September

I wrote to Anna Turley, Minister for Borders and Asylum, raising concerns about the cost of the proposal and urging the Government to share its business case and costings with taxpayers before any contracts are issued.

15 September

I wrote to I wrote to Anna Turley, Minister for Borders and Asylum, formally requesting an extension to the public consultation on the proposal, to give local residents 21 days to respond instead of 10.

14 September

I met with ministers at the Home Office where I made clear that the application has serious holes, including on transport, utilities and ecology. I also raised constituents’ questions and requested an extension to the public consultation deadline.

11 September

I wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to withdraw the MOD Bicester application, setting out the serious problems with this proposal – from unresolved power and drainage to unsafe access and concerns over value for money.

10 September

I asked the Government to make time for a statement from the Prime Minister before the consultation deadline, or at least advise on how the Prime Minister will fulfil his commitment to familiarise himself with all the details of the proposal.

7 September

Ministers opened up the consultation of the proposal to the public after I requested they did so.

3 September

I wrote to Matthew Pennycook to urge him to extend the consultation process over the application for MOD Bicester so that local people could respond, and so they would have longer to do so. I wrote to Anna Turley MP to urge her to withdraw the “urgent” planning application so that more people could contribute to the consultation.

1 September

With Parliament back, I could once again table written questions to Ministers and raise concerns in the House of Commons. I submitted five further questions and directly pressed the Prime Minister on the Government's proposals in the Commons.

25 August

I published an article explaining the next steps in our campaign to oppose the MOD Bicester Site A proposal.

13 August

The community interest company (C.I.C) "Bicester, Communities and Countryside" was incorporated.

11 August

The Go Fund Me fundraiser for a Judicial Review to challenge the Government's decision for MOD Bicester went live.

I wrote to Matthew Pennycook MP outlining concerns around the impact that the delay in information about the application was having on local house sales after this was raised with me by constituents.

7 August

I wrote to Bicester Town Council asking them to support "Wrong Plan. Wrong Site.", and the forthcoming CIC's fundraising efforts for the planned Judicial Review.

5 August

The website for "Wrong Plan. Wrong Site." went live after I engaged a local constituent who is now part of the "Wrong Plan. Wrong Site." team.

6 August

I wrote to Rt Hon Matthew Pennycook MP demanding that the urgent Crown Development Order application and its supporting evidence be published.

30 July

I started conversations with local businesses about the need to fundraise for a Judicial Review.

28 July

I wrote to Andy Burnham challenging him to be consistent with his belief that communities should not be dictated to by Whitehall and to put a stop to the plans for MOD Bicester.

25 July

I held an in-person meeting where volunteers of what has now become "Wrong Plan. Wrong Site." updated residents with the work from their workstreams.

I met with local residents who were organising the protests to discuss how we could work together. I remain open to working with anyone who shares the values set out in the campaign charter.

24 July

I wrote to Matthew Pennycook MP stating that two weeks had now passed since I was informed that the Secretary of State was satisfied that the application was both nationally important and urgent. I questioned whether it was indeed urgent, considering no further information had come forward.

21 July

I joined Piddington Parish Council’s meeting to support their efforts to oppose the site.

18 July

A follow up in-person meeting was held with volunteers which agreed to create workstreams that would gather the evidence required to challenge the Government's proposals for MOD Bicester.

16 July

I held an online meeting with potential volunteers to set up a community led organisation to oppose the site.

15 July

I received a response from Matthew Pennycook MP stating that the procedure for determining Urgent Crown Development applications is set in the Town and Country Planning (Crown Development) (Urgent Applications) (Procedure) (England) Order 2025. He also confirmed that I would be notified when the application has been validated and published on the gov.uk website.

13 July

I responded to Matthew Pennycook MP’s letter asking for MHCLG to confirm the process by which I, Cherwell District Council, Oxfordshire County Council and residents can submit representations and the deadline by which these must be received.

I was notified by Matthew Pennycook MP, that the application had been deemed National Important and Urgent and therefore would be going through the Urgent Crown Development route.

I submitted 5 more Written Questions to the Government.

10 July

I was notified by the Home Office that an application had been made to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government for the application to use MOD Bicester as an Asylum Centre.

I submitted 5 more Written Questions to the Government.

9 July

I met with local councillors representing almost all political parties in Bicester, and all nearby parish councils who will be affected by this proposal, to agree a campaign charter and cross party working together to oppose the plans.

I submitted 5 more Written Questions to the Government.

8 July

I submitted 5 more Written Questions to the Government.

7 July

I submitted 5 more Written Questions to the Government.

6 July

I questioned the Minister for Defence about when MOD officials started conversations with the Home Office about using the site and if any serving personnel, MOD staff or MOD contractors were under non-disclosure agreements in respect of the proposal.

I submitted 4 more Written Questions about the proposal.

2 July

I held the first in person town meeting with representatives from all political parties in Bicester along with residents to discuss the proposal and share information that we had already gathered.

30 June

I submitted 5 more Written Questions to the Government.

I convened a meeting with Cherwell District Council, Oxfordshire County Council and Thames Valley Police to discuss the implications of the proposal.

29 June

I launched a petition opposing the plans and calling on the Government to consult with residents. www.oxonld.uk/mod-bicester

I raised constituents' concerns about the proposal in Parliament.

I submitted 5 Written Questions to the Government about the proposal.

27 June

I held an online meeting to discuss the proposal and share information that we had already gathered.

26 June

I wrote to Alex Norris MP, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, to set out my concerns and ask for urgent answers. I also spoke on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, opposing the plans and the way that the proposals were announced without proper consultation with local residents.

25 June

I was first informed by a Home Office Minister of proposals to house asylum seekers at Site A, MOD Bicester. I called Parish Council chairs to alert them to the proposal.