Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 June 2026

Letter from the Mears Group relating to the use of Cameron Barracks for asylum accommodation 09.04.2026

Inquiry: Asylum Accommodation: Follow Up

Summary

Mears Group, the Home Office's asylum accommodation service contractor in Scotland, responds to the Home Affairs Committee's questions about its involvement in preparing Cameron Barracks for asylum seeker accommodation. Mears was previously contracted to operate the site for Afghan resettlement (2024–2025) and has conducted preliminary site visits, but states that detailed operational planning remains incomplete pending Home Office approval and formal capacity decisions.

Key findings

Mears operated Cameron Barracks for Afghan resettlement from early 2024 until summer 2025 under MoD contract.
A site visit in November 2025 involved Mears, Home Office, local authority, NHS, and police to discuss operational feasibility.
Mears has identified required adaptations: bedroom/bathroom modifications, heating system evaluation, catering provision assessment, and standard compliance checks (planning, fire risk, health and safety).
Local authority and health service engagement is being led by the Home Office; Mears' role at this stage is limited.
Staffing numbers and operational timeline remain unscoped, pending agreement on site capacity and Home Office approval.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

asylum-accommodationmilitary-facilitiesservice-delivery

Key actors

Mears Group, Home Office, Dame Karen Bradley, Ministry of Defence, John Taylor

Notable line

“Plans are not at the stage where Mears has assessed the lead time that would be needed for the safe opening and operation of the site.”

Key Quotes

“In early 2024 Mears was contracted by the MoD to support the use of the site for the Afghan Relocation and Resettlement Programme. This was phased out in summer”
— John Taylor · describing Mears' previous involvement at Cameron Barracks

“… a number of adaptations and assessments would be required to ensure it was suitable and safe for occupancy. This included potential modifications to bedroom and bathroom facilities, alongside consideration of whether core infrastructure, such as heating systems, was sufficient.”
— John Taylor · identifying material changes needed for asylum accommodation use

“Ongoing engagement with local partners is being led by the Home Office at this stage.”
— John Taylor · clarifying Mears' limited role in local stakeholder coordination

“At this stage we have not scoped the numbers of staff required. This would be determined by the agreed capacity and other considerations around use of the site.”
— John Taylor · explaining staffing plans remain contingent on capacity decisions

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗