Anger over plans to quadruple asylum seekers in houses near military base set to take at least 1,250 migrants — Published: 16:09 BST, 6 September 2026 | Updated: 16:40 BST, 6 September 2026
The Home Office has been accused of 'pouring fuel on the fire' by seeking to quadruple the number of asylum seekers placed in houses in an area that saw migration protests last month. 
Officials admitted at a meeting with county councillors in Norfolk that they want to use 240 rooms in houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) for asylum seekers in Breckland.
This would represent a huge increase of 428 per cent on the 56 beds available at present.
The local authority district of Breckland includes Thetford, where there were several consecutive nights of angry protests early last month over the occupants of residential addresses. Some had to be escorted away by police.
The town is less than two miles away from RAF Barnham, the focus of months of protests at plans to house at least 1,250 migrants on the former military base.
Scott Hussey, a senior Reform councillor on Norfolk County Council and Breckland District Council, described the HMO plans as a 'double whammy' for the area.
He said: 'Not content with trying to turn RAF Barnham into a near-permanent super camp for illegal immigrants, the Home Office now admits they've only just got started with their programme of housing migrants in houses.
'Thetford has already taken the lion's share of migrant houses and will likely see many more.
Police form a protective line in Thetford last month after a crowd protested against asylum seekers being housed in residential accommodation
'Other towns won't be untouched either – there have already been protests in Watton and Thetford over this.
'The Home Office will be pouring fuel on the fire if they press ahead with Barnham and an accelerated programme of housing young, single, undocumented men into the heart of our communities.
'All of this has happened with no public consultation whatsoever. No wonder people are angry and frustrated.'
Sam Chapman-Allen, the Conservative leader of Breckland Council, has repeatedly complained about the Government's programme of 'dispersed accommodation' for migrants.
The policy was launched in an attempt to move away from hotel accommodation that was costing £8million a day and caused protests around the country.