Piddington will launch a legal challenge against plans to convert a former military site near the Oxfordshire village into an asylum accommodation base, the parish council chairman has announced.
The government’s proposal to house more than 1,200 detained asylum seekers at the MoD Bicester site was approved by Communities Secretary Angela Rayner. The decision followed an Urgent Crown Development application, a fast-track route designed for projects deemed of national importance.
Parish council chairman Tim McNally said that ministers should “absolutely, absolutely” prepare for a legal challenge. The decision is now subject to a six-week window during which opponents can seek a judicial review.
McNally told the BBC’s Today programme that the village intends to invoke the Hillsborough Law to compel transparency from public authorities. He warned that villagers are planning “many actions” in response to the development, adding that they would disclose further steps as they progress.
Defence minister Luke Pollard acknowledged the strength of local opposition. “It’s pretty obvious that there’s a strong sense of feeling from the community around Bicester, especially in Piddington,” Pollard told LBC. He said that the Home Office would continue to engage with residents, noting that the project is not yet “fully locked in and delivered.”
The project has drawn sharp criticism from Kemi Badenoch, who described the plans as “emblematic of Labour and Angela Rayner’s disregard for the law and women and girls’ safety.” Badenoch recalled her own visit to the village, describing it as “a village terrified of what was about to land on their doorstep.”
Local resistance has included symbolic measures, such as a vote to leave the UK. A government report indicated that the planning application received 3,177 representations against the proposal and one in support. The planned site is intended to include modular accommodation, health facilities, and 24/7 security with CCTV.
