Statement from Braintree District Council 16.03.23

Statement on Wethersfield airfield site and housing asylum seekers

Our latest statement on potential role of Wethersfield airfield site in housing asylum seekers.

Updated: Thursday 16 March 2023

We are continuing to urgently seek clarification from the Home Office regarding their potential plans to house asylum seekers at the RAF Wethersfield airfield site.

We met with them again this week and they emphasised that no decision has yet been taken.

We have sought legal advice and have formally written to the Home Office to request full and detailed information as to the proposals, together with a request for copies of all relevant documentation. We await further details from the Home Office. In the meantime, the Council reserves all legal rights, including the ability to challenge the Home Office on their decision making and the Councils right to consider, all available legal remedies including its ability to seek an injunction.

We have continued to reiterate that we believe Wethersfield airfield to be an unsuitable site, and our concerns that due to the size of the site, the scale of the development proposed could have a significant adverse impact upon the local community.

We will continue to keep residents updated on this matter when we know more.