Home Office sign-off also needed for site that would house 1,200 asylum seekers near Oxfordshire village that voted to leave UK
The communities secretary, Angela Rayner, has approved full planning permission for an asylum centre at a Ministry of Defence site near the village of Piddington in Oxfordshire.
The decision approves plans to go ahead with the refurbishment and redevelopment of the former barracks. The Home Office insists that final approval is still to be determined.
In September, people in Piddington voted to leave the UK in a symbolic referendum against plans to house 1,256 detained asylum seekers nearby. A total of 285 people were in favour of independence from the UK while 26 voted against.
The poll was organised by campaigners for residents to demonstrate opposition to the plans for accommodation at the converted MoD site near the town of Bicester.
A Home Office spokesperson said on Thursday: “Planning permission allows us to continue to progress the use of MoD Bicester. However, a final decision to proceed is yet to be taken.
“The government is working on a fairer distribution of asylum accommodation across the country, with over £1bn saved in costs since the election.
“This includes closing all asylum hotels and moving to alternative accommodation, including former military sites.
