Delay announced for inquiry into immigration detention centre plans - Oxford Mail

Previously due to open at the offices of Cherwell District Council in Banbury on Tuesday, October 6, the inquiry has been postponed.

This follows a letter from lawyers acting pro bono on behalf of the Coalition to Close Campsfield, requesting the Home Office publish more material relating to its planning application to expand the immigration removal centre from 160 to around 400 places.

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The Coalition to Close Campsfield says material supporting the application has been withheld or redacted and the letter argues that without these, proper public scrutiny is not possible.

Proposals to expand the Home Office detention facility near Kidlington are currently being assessed by the Government Planning Inspectorate.

Campsfield reopened in 2025 with 160 beds following a period of closure which came after a review of detainees' welfare and years of protest, including hunger strikes.

Protest against Campsfield House Immigration Centre in Oxfordshire (Image: Ed Nix)

In around 250 objections to the expansion from neighbouring residents, workers, councils, MPs, human rights advocates and campaign groups, there were repeated calls for the plan to come to an inquiry to ensure "proper scrutiny".

The plans are going through the Crown Development route, which effectively bypasses the local planning authority due to their "national importance".

In a letter sent to those who made written representations on the plans, the Crown Development case team at the Government's planning inspectorate confirmed in August that a public inquiry will be held and the opportunity to request to give evidence.

Campsfield House (Image: Contributed)

The letter said: "The application has generated considerable local interest; some of the issues raised are complex and the evidence would benefit from formal cross-examination."

Concerns about "inhumane" detention on the site, opposition to its being open - let alone expanded, noise and green belt development had been included in objections.

The letter added: "The date, time and venue fixed for the holding of the inquiry will be published on the application website in due course. "

An inquiry is a court-like legal process used to evaluate major controversial development plans.

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It is the most formal of procedures which could be used to authorise or refuse plans.

Government guidance states it will be "open to the public and provides for the investigation into, and formal testing of, evidence, usually through cross-examination of expert witnesses and other witnesses" and that "parties may be formally represented by advocates".

In 2003, an inquiry was held into an asylum seeker accommodation centre that was planned for MOD Bicester and was refused.

This decision was overruled by the government, but the plans did not go ahead.