Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Home Office's document entitled MoD Bicester (site A), Oxfordshire: factsheet, (a) which feasibility assessments remain outstanding, (b) when each assessment began, (c) when each is expected to be completed, (d) which assessments were available when the decision was taken to pursue the Urgent Crown Development procedure and (e) whether the results will be published before the deadline for representations on the application.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The MOD Bicester application has been published.
The public representation period ran from 7 to 17 September 2026.
The statement of national importance and other supporting documents submitted by the Home Office can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has assessed that the proposed development at MOD Bicester Site A is required in a matter of days or weeks; what operational deadline has been identified; what evidence she has received that neither a conventional planning application nor the ordinary Crown Development procedure could meet that deadline; and what the consequences of not meeting it would be.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The MOD Bicester application has been published.
The public representation period ran from 7 to 17 September 2026.
The statement of national importance and other supporting documents submitted by the Home Office can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish (a) the Urgent Crown Development application for MOD Bicester Site A, (b) the statement explaining why the proposed development is considered nationally important and urgent and (c) the supporting documents; and how much time will be provided for representations before the application is determined.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The MOD Bicester application has been published.
The public representation period ran from 7 to 17 September 2026.
The statement of national importance and other supporting documents submitted by the Home Office can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many applications have been (a) submitted, (b) accepted and (c) determined under the Urgent Crown Development procedure since that procedure came into force.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The MOD Bicester application has been published.
The public representation period ran from 7 to 17 September 2026.
The statement of national importance and other supporting documents submitted by the Home Office can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to answer Questions 26422, 26423 and 26424 tabled on 1 September 2026, Question 26826 tabled on 2 September 2026 and Question 28239 tabled on 8 September 2026 by the hon. Member for Bicester and Woodstock.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The MOD Bicester application has been published.
The public representation period ran from 7 to 17 September 2026.
The statement of national importance and other supporting documents submitted by the Home Office can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to answer Question (a) 26422, (b) 26423 and (c) 26424 tabled by the hon. Member for Bicester and Woodstock on 1 September 2026 and Question 26826 tabled by the hon. Member for Bicester and Woodstock on 2 September 2026.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The MOD Bicester application has been published.
The public representation period ran from 7 to 17 September 2026.
The statement of national importance and other supporting documents submitted by the Home Office can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department during the debate on MOD Bicester and Illegal Migrants on 14 October 2026, whether the environmental impact assessment referred to was a full environmental impact assessment; and if she will publish that assessment.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
The assessment referred to was an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening exercise, rather than a full Environmental Impact Assessment.
On 26 August 2026, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government issued a screening direction under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, determining that the proposed development is not an EIA development. A full Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Statement were therefore not required.
The screening direction and supporting information has been published as part of the planning process.
No final decision has been taken on the future use of MOD Bicester Site A.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed asylum accommodation at Site A at MoD Bicester on residents in surrounding communities, in relation to the relevant provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework on crime and the fear of crime.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
No final decision has been taken on the future use of MOD Bicester Site A.
Suitability assessments are ongoing and will consider a range of factors including safety, security, operational deliverability, planning requirements, and the impact on local services and communities. This work is informed by engagement with Thames Valley Police and other statutory partners. Relevant planning considerations, including crime and the fear of crime, would be considered through the appropriate planning processes.
If the site is taken forward, it would have security permanently on site supported by CCTV and appropriate access-control arrangements.
The Home Office would continue working closely with police and local partners to assess risks and help protect the safety and wellbeing of local communities, staff and those accommodated on site.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the safety of pedestrians travelling between the proposed asylum accommodation at Site A at MoD Bicester and local services by roads without pavements.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
No final decision has been made on whether to use Site A at MoD Bicester for asylum accommodation.
Suitability assessments are ongoing and will consider a range of factors including safety, security, operational deliverability, planning requirements, and the impact on local services and communities.
Any proposal would be subject to the relevant planning and approval processes, through which potential impacts on the local area, including public rights of way and public access routes would be considered before any final decision is taken.
If the site is taken forward, transport arrangements would be considered as part of operational planning and in discussion with relevant local partners.
Asked by: Calum Miller (Liberal Democrat - Bicester and Woodstock)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of policing resources required to support the proposed asylum accommodation at Site A at MoD Bicester.
Answered by Anna Turley - Minister of State (Home Office)
No final decision has been taken on the future use of MOD Bicester.
Suitability assessments are ongoing and will consider a range of factors including safety, security, operational deliverability, planning requirements, and the impact on local services and communities. This work is informed by engagement with Thames Valley Police and other statutory partners.
If the site is taken forward, the Home Office would continue working closely with police and other local partners to assess risks and help protect the safety and wellbeing of local communities, staff and those accommodated on site.