The number of asylum seekers planned to be housed at three former military barracks in England may exceed current public estimates, according to information disclosed in a recent private meeting between Home Office officials and local councillors. The meeting, held earlier this month near RAF Barnham in Norfolk, revealed that the Home Office could not guarantee that the number of migrants accommodated at that site would remain below the publicly stated figure of 1,250.

During the discussion, Home Office representatives said the 1,250 figure was intended as an illustrative ceiling, but cautioned that it could be increased depending on feasibility assessments related to site operations, safety, and healthcare provision. Councillors were told officials are examining ways to expand capacity, including at RAF Wethersfield in Essex, where current numbers stand at approximately 700 to 800 but may rise to 1,220 in the coming months. Separate plans involve the use of former RAF bases at Bicester in Oxfordshire and Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire, with overall plans suggesting capacity for about 3,750 migrants across the three sites.

The prospective expansion of migrant accommodation has sparked unease and protests in affected communities, many of which have relatively small populations. Villages such as Barnham and Linton-on-Ouse each have populations around 600, raising concerns that asylum seekers housed locally could outnumber residents. Several local officials and activists criticized the Home Office for a lack of transparency and accused it of misleading the public on the true scale of the plans.

Scott Hussey, a Reform UK councillor for Norfolk County Council who attended the meeting, expressed alarm at the possibility of “semi-permanent migrant supercamps” near small villages and called for greater clarity about future intentions. Michael Hadwen, leader of Suffolk County Council and also aligned with Reform UK, said the Home Office had “moved the goalposts” regarding capacity figures and warned that ongoing protests might escalate if authorities failed to address community concerns and adequately police the sites.

Tory MP Nick Timothy, representing constituents near West Suffolk, described ministers as “slippery and secretive” for announcing the use of military barracks during parliamentary recess and said the potential increase in migrant numbers posed risks to public safety and local lifestyles. Professor Olga Matthias, spokesperson for the Linton-on-Ouse Action Group opposing plans at the North Yorkshire site, contended that the government was not being truthful about the numbers involved.

In response to community concerns, Essex County Council has announced plans to deploy private security at RAF Wethersfield to reassure residents and deter anti-social behaviour linked to migrant accommodation. Meanwhile, the Home Office has applied for an “Urgent Crown Development” order to override local council planning objections, enabling the continuation of accommodation development plans at the military sites despite local opposition.

Reform UK officials called for stricter immigration controls, emphasizing the need to deter illegal crossings rather than expand migrant housing facilities. The Home Office has been contacted for comment but has reiterated its position that capacity figures are subject to operational feasibility and that all sites will be managed safely and responsibly.