Napier Barracks, a 130-year-old military site in Folkestone, Kent, closed its doors to asylum seekers on Friday, December 19, 2025, marking the end of a controversial chapter in the United Kingdom’s approach to migrant accommodation. According to BBC, the Home Office confirmed the closure, stating that the site would be vacated entirely by the end of December and then handed back to the Ministry of Defence. In March 2026, the barracks are set to be transferred to a property developer for new housing.
The closure comes after years of scrutiny and criticism over the conditions at Napier Barracks, which opened in 2020 to house migrants and asylum seekers. The site, once home to more than 300 residents at its peak, became the focus of public and political debate, particularly after a significant Covid-19 outbreak during the pandemic. Reports of poor living conditions surfaced repeatedly, prompting numerous inspections since February 2021 and fueling calls for reform in how the UK houses those seeking asylum.
Care4Calais, a charity that has provided support to residents at Napier Barracks, completed its final clothing distribution at the site on Sunday, December 14, 2025. Reflecting on their work, a spokesperson told BBC, "We were never allowed indoors, so we worked outside in all weathers. It was not how we wanted to work, but our volunteers did it with care, dignity, and determination." Their efforts, often carried out in difficult circumstances, underscored the challenges faced by both asylum seekers and those supporting them.
As the last residents prepared to leave, the number of people housed at Napier Barracks had dwindled to fewer than 100, a far cry from the overcrowded peak. The Home Office, while confirming the closure, declined to comment on operational arrangements or on individual asylum accommodation sites, maintaining its usual policy of discretion in such matters.
The end of operations at Napier Barracks does not, however, signify a resolution to the broader issue of asylum accommodation in the UK. Instead, attention has shifted to other former military sites, including Crowborough Camp in East Sussex and Cameron Barracks in Inverness, Scotland. The Home Office has confirmed that discussions are underway to use these two locations to house around 900 single adult males seeking asylum. The prospect has ignited debate and, in some cases, outright opposition from local leaders and communities.
Crowborough Camp, situated just nine miles from Tunbridge Wells, has become a particular flashpoint. The Home Office recently delayed a decision on whether to use the site for asylum accommodation until after the New Year, following appeals from local officials. Wealden District Council leader James Partridge, who has personally faced threats over the proposal, wrote to Border and Asylum Minister Alex Norris MP on December 11, urging that no decision or use of the site occur during the Christmas period. He argued that the focus of the local community should be on "coming together and having peaceful family time," and that local service providers like Sussex Police and the NHS deserved a break during this challenging season.
In his letter, Mr. Partridge emphasized the strain that such a decision could place on local resources and morale. "This is a challenging period for local service providers, particularly Sussex Police and the NHS as they balance complex pressures and their team’s reasonable expectation of a break with their families," he wrote. He further requested that the Home Office "clarify that you have no intention of ruining Christmas for our community and those that work tirelessly to protect and care for us, and confirm that no decision will be made before 5 January at the very earliest."
The situation at Crowborough Camp has been complicated by leaks and escalating community tensions. Last month, Mr. Partridge and deputy council leader Rachel Millward attended a confidential briefing about the site’s potential use, only for details to be leaked to the media. The leak, Partridge wrote, "resulted in an increase in community tensions, and the spread of misinformation. This has escalated to threats to personal wellbeing of council leadership. These tensions will only continue to rise as we get nearer the proposed opening of the site." He urged the Home Office not to underestimate the gravity of the situation or the impact of its decisions on local trust and safety.
The council has also taken formal steps to challenge the Home Office’s actions, serving a planning contravention notice to demand clarity on what works were being undertaken at Crowborough Camp and on what legal basis. The Home Office, for its part, responded that many of the council’s questions pertained to possible future activities rather than actions already taken, and declined to answer additional queries, citing established guidance and case law. In a statement, the Home Office said, "We can confirm that discussions are underway to use the Cameron Barracks and Crowborough sites for asylum accommodation, which will house around 900 single adult males across both sites."
For now, the Home Office has assured the council that no asylum seekers from Napier Barracks will be immediately moved to Crowborough Camp following its closure. The delay in decision-making has provided a temporary reprieve for local officials and residents, but uncertainty remains about the long-term future of the site and the broader strategy for accommodating asylum seekers in the UK.
The debate over the use of former military sites for asylum accommodation reflects broader tensions in British society over migration, public resources, and community cohesion. Those supporting the use of such facilities argue that they provide a pragmatic solution to the ongoing demand for housing among asylum seekers, especially as traditional accommodations become overstretched. Critics, however, point to the lessons of Napier Barracks—where overcrowding, poor conditions, and public health crises highlighted the risks of relying on outdated and unsuitable infrastructure.
Local leaders like James Partridge have found themselves at the center of this debate, balancing the needs and concerns of their constituents with the demands of national policy. The experience at Napier Barracks, and the ongoing uncertainty at Crowborough Camp, have made clear that decisions about asylum accommodation are rarely straightforward. They involve not only logistical and legal considerations but also questions of dignity, safety, and the fabric of local communities.
As the UK prepares to transfer Napier Barracks to civilian use and weighs its options for other sites, the story is far from over. The coming months will test the government’s ability to address the needs of asylum seekers while managing local concerns and upholding standards of care. For those who lived, worked, or advocated at Napier Barracks, and for the communities now facing similar challenges, the lessons of the past five years will undoubtedly shape the debates and decisions still to come.
