Plans to relocate hundreds of single, male asylum seekers to military barracks in both East Sussex and the Scottish Highlands have been thrown into uncertainty following a series of delays, mounting local opposition, and sharp criticism from political leaders. The UK Home Office, which had intended to move 540 men into an army training camp on the outskirts of Crowborough, East Sussex, and 300 men into Cameron Barracks near Inverness, Scotland, by late November and early December 2025 respectively, has now put both initiatives on hold. The reason? Officials say they are determined to avoid repeating "the mistakes of the past"—a reference to previous rushed relocations that led to what they admit were "unsafe and chaotic situations."
According to BBC Sussex and corroborated by multiple outlets, the Home Office had initially informed Wealden District Council that the Crowborough camp would begin housing asylum seekers in late November. But as of November 28, a spokesperson confirmed, "We will not replicate the mistakes of the past where rushed plans have led to unsafe and chaotic situations that impacts the local community." The government is now "continuing to accelerate plans to move people into Crowborough" as well as Cameron Barracks, but only "until the sites are fully operational and safe."
The delays come amid a wave of public protests. In Crowborough, hundreds recently took to the streets to voice their opposition to the proposal, reflecting a broader national trend of unrest over asylum accommodations. The local authority, Wealden District Council, has formally opposed the Crowborough plan, citing concerns over community impact and the suitability of the military site for such a large influx of vulnerable individuals.
In Scotland, the situation is just as fraught. The plan to house 300 men at Cameron Barracks in Inverness by early December was abruptly postponed, drawing fierce criticism from Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney. Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland and the Press Association, Swinney accused the Home Office of making up its plans "on the back of an envelope," adding, "The abrupt nature of the announcement and the about-turn indicates that frankly, this has all been made up on the back of an envelope." He welcomed the delay as "an acknowledgement that the plans were not well formulated" and called for the Home Office to "do some thinking, some homework first."
Swinney’s concerns were echoed by Highland Council and local residents, who raised alarms over the scale of the project and the pressures it would place on local services. Cameron Barracks, a 140-year-old base near Inverness city centre, is in need of a £1.3 million refurbishment—a fact that has fueled doubts about its readiness to receive hundreds of asylum seekers. Swinney stated, "We’ve said all along that there had to be detailed engagement and dialogue with Highland Council and the Scottish government about these plans, and despite our best efforts, we have been unable to have that detailed engagement."
The Home Office, for its part, insists that moving asylum seekers to large military sites is a key part of its strategy to reduce the use of hotels—an approach that has come under heavy fire. Figures released in late November show that the number of asylum seekers housed temporarily in UK hotels rose by 13% over three months, reaching more than 36,000 people by the end of September 2025. A Home Office spokesperson stated, "We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels. Moving to large military sites is an important part of our reforms to tackle illegal migration and the pull factors that make the UK an attractive destination."
However, critics argue that the strategy is both flawed and poorly executed. Edward Mountain, Scottish Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP, dismissed the delay as "nothing more than a ploy by the UK government in the hope people come round to their flawed idea of housing asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks." Local MP Angus MacDonald of the Scottish Liberal Democrats was even more direct: "Irrespective of how long this delay lasts, Cameron Barracks is not an appropriate location to house such a large number of asylum seekers. It is the wrong solution in the wrong place."
Underlying these political skirmishes is a groundswell of public sentiment—some of it deeply troubling. Protests against housing asylum seekers at military sites and hotels have been widespread across the UK, with several demonstrations marred by overt expressions of racism. Swinney did not mince words, telling reporters, "Many of the people who are participating in these protests against the asylum seeker hotels are people who are spreading racist hate in our country. So yes, there are people in there who are doing exactly that, and that’s why that’s got to be confronted, and why people in Scotland can rely on their First Minister to do exactly that." At one protest in Falkirk, for example, a demonstrator was seen performing a Nazi salute, while another held a banner reading, "Kill 'Em All, Let God Sort 'Em Out."
Still, Swinney acknowledged that not all opposition is rooted in prejudice. "Members of the public have legitimate questions about the plans," he said, referencing concerns over healthcare arrangements and access to essential services. The issue of medical care has become particularly contentious after a BBC investigation revealed that some asylum seekers had been transported hundreds of miles by taxi for medical appointments, with one journey costing the Home Office £600. In response, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that taxis would now be authorized only in "the most exceptional circumstances." Swinney countered, "Don’t send asylum seekers to places where it’s impossible for them to access public services because what you will then do is feed stories like the one you’ve just put to me, where the Home Office are making a big song and dance about clamping down on taxi use when in fact it’s the chaotic arrangements of the Home Office that have fuelled that in the first place."
The delays and debates come at a time when the UK is grappling with a broader housing crisis. The Scottish government, alongside more than a dozen councils, has declared a housing emergency. With the number of asylum seekers in temporary hotel accommodation rising and public services already under strain, the question of where—and how—to house new arrivals has become a flashpoint for political, social, and ethical tensions.
Despite the setbacks, the Home Office maintains that it will "continue to work closely with local representatives and authorities throughout this transition" and that it remains committed to its reforms. "We will continue to accelerate plans to move people into Cameron Barracks, when it is fully operational and safe," a spokesperson said, reiterating the department’s intention to avoid past errors.
As the government, local authorities, and communities wrestle with the complexities of asylum accommodation, the future for hundreds of men awaiting relocation remains unclear. What is certain, however, is that the debate has laid bare the deep divisions—and urgent questions—surrounding Britain’s response to migration in a time of crisis.
