Plans to house up to 1,500 asylum seekers at RAF Barnham may be abandoned as costs soar into the millions.
Reports that the plans may be scrapped comes as a regular protest of the site – attended by local politicians, residents, and Rhiannon Whyte’s mother – was held.
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Residents have raised fears that a mass flood of migrants could drastically affect the nearby town of Thetford, around a mile from the site.
But insiders have now told the Local Democracy Reporting Service for the Eastern Daily Press that an overhaul of the ageing site, which was set to be disposed of by 2020, could result in asylums seekers never moving in.
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RAF Barnham will need new accommodation units and costly sewage disposal methods, sources said.
Environmental hurdles in connection to protections covering rare bird sites are also likely to pose an obstacle.
Terry Jermy, the Labour MP for the area, has regular meeting around the plans and said it is “becoming increasingly clear how entirely unsuitable the site is”.
He added: “I have repeatedly been making these objections and concerns clear to the Home Office, other government ministers and the prime minister.”
West Suffolk Council, the body which would have been responsible for planning permission, has publicly opposed plans for the site.
But the Government has used Urgent Crown Development powers to bypass normal council planning process, similar to the controversial RAF Crowborough site, now housing around 350 asylum seekers.
RAF Crowborough cost over £7million to house asylum seekers in its first four months, according to Home Office officials.
This means the cost of housing an illegal migrant was around £160 per night, while housing a migrant in a hotel cost, on average, £144 a night.
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Costs to make RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire suitable for migrants ballooned from £5million to £60million before the plan was scrapped in 2024.
Scott Hussey, a Reform cabinet member, said: “Barnham has decades of history as a munitions and nuclear weapons store and sites like this routinely need substantial sewerage and utilities upgrades.
“The Home Office’s own factsheet admits due diligence on Barnham is still ongoing.
“Given their track record, taxpayers deserve to know the full costs – including any ordnance clearance and infrastructure works – before this Labour government presses ahead.”
Residents have been told security guards will monitor the former military base 24 hours a day, with CCTV installed.
Leader of Norfolk County Council, David Bick, told GB News on Thursday the proposed safety measures “provides virtually no comfort at all” to residents.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into alternative accommodation, including former military sites.
“We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, engaging with local authorities to reduce the impact on communities.
“And we are reducing the burden on local communities and taxpayers, with asylum costs down by £1 billion since the general election.”
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