Committee publication · Correspondence · 3 June 2026
Letter to East Sussex County 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 Chair writes to East Sussex County Council regarding the committee's scrutiny of the Crowborough Training Camp's use for asylum accommodation. The committee is examining the Home Office's rationale for using the site temporarily and how it was opened, seeking council responses on notification timing, engagement with the Home Office and accommodation provider, information provision, local service capacity, funding, costs, suitability concerns, community engagement, and lessons from previous use for Afghan resettlement.
Key findings
- Committee is conducting follow-up inquiry into Government's expansion of large-site asylum accommodation following recent Home Office management examination
- Seeks to establish when East Sussex Council was informed of Home Office plans for Crowborough Training Camp conversion
- Inquiring whether council receives adequate data on resident numbers, vulnerabilities, and social care needs at the site
- Questions whether Home Office consulted on local service capacity impacts and what funding has been offered to cover additional council costs
- Examines council satisfaction with engagement by Home Office and Clearsprings Ready Homes, and any outstanding suitability concerns from prior use as Afghan resettlement facility
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Home Affairs Committee, Rt Hon Dame Karen Bradley MP, East Sussex County Council, Cllr Keith Glazier, Home Office, Clearsprings Ready Homes
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.”
“Is the Council receiving adequate information about the number of people being accommodated at the site, and about any potential vulnerabilities or social care needs?”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗