West Suffolk Council continues to oppose modified plans for RAF Barnham

26 Oct 2026

The Leader of West Suffolk Council has reasserted the authority’s opposition to modified plans for the former RAF Barnham site to house asylum seekers.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government has withdrawn its original application to house 1,250 people and submitted a new one in its place providing homes for 931 asylum seekers.

Government confirms the Secretary of State considers that the proposed development is Nationally Significant and Urgent as was the case with the original application. However, it does not set out the basis on which this decision has been made.

Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “We continue to believe the environmental and legislative constraints affecting MOD Barnham, including its relationship with the Breckland Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) prevents the site from being developed. This has stopped development in the past and we have not seen any evidence why this proposal is any different. We await the planning application which the council will respond to and continue to call on ministers to meet with us.

“As far as I am concerned, this new information does not change my view nor the view of the council that we continue to strongly oppose these plans as unsuitable for local communities and the people they wish to house at the former RAF site.

“We will continue to work with partners and the local community to use the best evidence and arguments so that ministers are clear the site should not be used in this way.”

 

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