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):

3rd September 

I wrote to Matthew Pennycook MP 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. 

1st 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.

25th August

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

13th August 2026 

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

11th August 2026 

The Go Fund Me fundraiser for a Judicial Review to challenge the Governments 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.

7th August 2026

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.

5th August 2026 

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.

6th August 2026

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

30th July 2026

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

28th July 2026

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.

25th July 2026

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.

24th July 2026

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.

21st July 2026

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

18th July 2026

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

16th July 2026

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

15th July 2026

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.

13th July 2026

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.

10th July 2026

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.

9th July 2026

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.

8th July 2026 

I submitted 5 more Written Questions to the Government.

7th July 2026 

I submitted 5 more Written Questions to the Government.

6th July 2026 

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.

2nd July 2026

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.

30th June 2026 

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.

29th June 2026

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.

27th June 2026

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

26th June 2026

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.

25th June 2026

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.