Hundreds of people have protested the government’s plan to lodge asylum seekers in an army training camp on the outskirts of Crowborough, East Sussex.

In October, the Home Office said that 540 men will be housed at the facility as part of a plan to replace the usage of hotels, which had previously generated concerns.

Demonstrators highlighted concerns about local infrastructure, law enforcement, and safety.

Some residents expressed concerns about the site’s size, arguing it is insufficient to accommodate the expected number of residents.

The Home Office has stated that the location will meet security, health, and wellbeing criteria, and that people will not be relocated until it is “fully operational and safe.” A spokesman stated:

Previous Afghan citizens who were placed at the location during the 2021 Kabul evacuation allegedly caused no problems, while locals are apprehensive about service demand.

The Home Office intends to provide most primary care on-site, but individuals in the area will still need to register with local GPs. Similar rallies have occurred in recent weeks, with some backed by national groups.

The arrival date for the first asylum seekers is unknown, although the Home Office has stated that it intends to hasten the process.

The relocation to military bases is part of the government’s larger aim to minimise asylum hotel use, which presently shelters approximately 32,000 people, down from over 56,000 in 2023.

The estimated cost of lodging contracts between 2019 and 2029 has increased from £4.5 billion to £15.3 billion.

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