Hundreds of male asylum seekers will be moved into an army camp in a small Sussex village despite passionate local opposition, according to reports. Furious residents have taken to the streets of Crowborough every weekend since the site was offered to the Home Office as a migrant base last year in a bid to close asylum hotels. Councillor James Partridge said it had been confirmed that up to 600 lone male migrants would be moved into the site this month in a Facebook post on Wednesday night.

“I’m really sorry to let you know that the Home Office … have decided to open the Crowborough Army Camp for use as a temporary site for asylum seekers,” he wrote. “I told [minister Alex Norris] that we still strongly feel that it’s the wrong decision for all [the] reasons you’ll be familiar with. Despite our strong objection, the minister hasn’t listened to any of us. The camp is likely to open within the next few days.”

Hundreds of protesters have lined Crowborough’s streets week after week since late October, waving Union Jacks and St George flags and chanting “Whose streets? Our streets!” and “Crowborough says no!”

Demonstrators also carried placards reading: “Protect our women and girls” and “Not racist, just afraid”.

Mr Partridge said Wealdon Council has asked its legal team to see if there is any way of challenging the decision.

“We know this a long shot,” he added. “It is very likely that the camp will open.

“Whilst we know many people will be angry, frightened and worried about this, we are going to have to find a way to make the best of it and certainly not make matters worse.”

The councillor added that local officials would continue to work with police and other authorities.

“I hope everyone will come together,” he wrote. “This is a message I never wanted to have to give.

“We still believe the decision is wrong, but we do have to make the best of it.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to stop the use of asylum seeker hotels before the next general election, but the number of migrants illegally crossing the Channel and requiring accommodation has continued to climb since Labour took office.

Home Office figures show that 41,472 migrants arrived in the UK in 2025 after making the perilous journey, the second highest annual figure on record.

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.