Home Office to seek planning permission for continued use of Crowborough Army Camp
Publish Date: 2 September 2026
Wealden District Council has been notified today by the Home Office that it will be applying for planning permission directly to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, bypassing the council as the local planning authority.
The Home Office intends to use the Urgent Crown Development procedure to apply for permission.
As part of this process, the council will be invited to submit its views on the application, alongside other organisations, including Natural England and East Sussex Highways Authority. The Secretary of State must take into account any representations received during the consultation period.
Councillor Rachel Millward, Alliance for Wealden (Green Party) and Leader of Wealden District Council, said: “I want to be clear that the council remains opposed to the Home Office’s use of Crowborough Army Camp as asylum accommodation and its route to seek planning permission. Although the council will not determine this application, we will examine the proposals carefully, submit our views through the formal process and make sure local communities have clear information about how and when they can have their say.”
Once the application is published for consultation, the council will make this information available so residents can see the proposals and understand how and when to comment.
Further details will be shared through the council’s official channels once these are available and updated on our Crowborough Army Camp webpage