Cherwell District Council has stated its dissatisfaction with the Government for its approval of planning permission for large scale asylum accommodation at Site A near Bicester.
Published: Friday, 13th November 2026
In September, Cherwell District Council formally objected to proposals for asylum seeker accommodation at Site A of the former Bicester Garrison as important planning questions remained unanswered.
Following a detailed review of the application, the council's response concluded that insufficient information had been provided in many areas. The areas of concern were:
- Transport and highway impacts;
- pressures on local infrastructure and services;
- impacts on nearby communities, including Piddington and Upper Arncott;
- drainage, wastewater and flood risk; environmental and ecological impacts;
- site safety, security and emergency access arrangements; and
- whether proposed mitigation and management measures are sufficiently clear and enforceable.
Leader of Cherwell District Council, Councillor Lesley McLean, said: “This is disappointing news, and local residents will rightly be feeling extremely angry and let down by this development. They have campaigned tirelessly and peacefully to have their voices heard, and this decision suggests their concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
“We know that despite planning approval being granted a final decision on whether the site will be used has not been made. I therefore urge the Home Office to engage urgently and constructively with our residents to listen to their concerns and give them a voice in decisions that could have far reaching impacts on their lives. I don’t think this is an unreasonable thing to expect.“
The council is carefully reviewing last night’s government approval of full planning permission for Site A near Piddington and will continue to work with residents and all relevant parties in this matter.