Sussex Weald MP Nusrat Ghani says the cadets currently based at the Crowborough military camp will leave the site next week, ahead of plans to convert the facility into accommodation for asylum seekers.
The proposal would see the camp adapted to house up to 560 men, as the Home Office continues to look for larger, self-contained sites to reduce reliance on hotels.
Ghani met Defence Minister Luke Pollard yesterday to raise local concerns over the impact of the changes. Following the meeting, she said the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office had now committed to securing an alternative base for the cadets, although details of the new location have not yet been confirmed.
The move to convert the site is part of the government’s wider strategy to manage accommodation pressures within the asylum system. Although preparation work at Crowborough is expected to begin once the cadets have moved out, the Home Office has not set a timetable for when the first asylum seekers might arrive.
The proposal has sparked huge debate and protests locally, with some residents raising questions about infrastructure and services, as well as safety for residents nearby.