Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 June 2026
Letter to Wealden District Council relating to the use of Crowborough Training Camp for asylum accommodation 25.03.2026
From: Home Affairs Committee
Inquiry: Asylum Accommodation: Follow Up
Summary
The Home Affairs Committee writes to Wealden District Council requesting information about the use of Crowborough Training Camp for asylum accommodation. The Committee is conducting scrutiny of the Government's expansion of large-site asylum housing and seeks details on council engagement with the Home Office and Clearsprings Ready Homes, funding arrangements, local service impacts, and concerns about site suitability.
Key findings
- Committee is examining Home Office's rationale for using Crowborough Training Camp on a temporary basis and how the site opening was approached
- Committee seeks clarification on when council was first informed of Home Office plans and whether previous discussions occurred under the Government's large sites programme
- Committee inquires about Home Office funding to the council, whether it covers additional costs incurred, and the basis for funding decisions
- Committee requests information on council's assessment of site suitability for asylum accommodation and community engagement by Home Office and Clearsprings Ready Homes
- Committee seeks details on any challenges from the site's previous use as transitional accommodation for resettled Afghans and whether corrective action has been taken
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Home Affairs Committee, Wealden District Council, Cllr James Partridge, Home Office, Clearsprings Ready Homes, Rt Hon Dame Karen Bradley MP
Notable line
“We intend to scrutinise the rationale for using Crowborough on a temporary basis and examine how the Home Office has approached the opening of the site.”
Key Quotes
“We are now planning to look at the Government's expansion of the use of large sites. We intend to scrutinise the rationale for using Crowborough on a temporary basis and examine how the Home Office has approached the opening of the site.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗