Agenda item

**No public speaking permitted on this item as it is not a planning application for determination by Cherwell District Council. Individuals can make their own representations on the application to the Planning Inspectorate during the consultation period**

The Planning Committee is asked to authorise officers to advise the Secretary of State, the Planning Inspectorate and the Home Office that Cherwell District Council raises no objection to Crown application CROWN/2026/0000004 / Cherwell reference 26/01402/CROWN, subject to: 

1. The Secretary of State being satisfied that the submitted national need, operational need and security evidence justifies the proposed expansion of Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre; 

2. The Secretary of State being satisfied that the proposal constitutes Grey Belt development which is not inappropriate development for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework, or, in the alternative, that very special circumstances exist which clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and any other harm; 

3. The development being controlled by planning conditions covering the matters set out in this report; and 

4. Any necessary planning obligations, Crown undertaking or other binding mechanism being secured to address travel plan monitoring, public transport and active travel mitigation, off-site biodiversity net gain, highway works, monitoring and any other mitigation required to make the development acceptable in planning terms. 

Recommendations

The Planning Committee resolves:

1.1 To authorise officers to advise the Secretary of State, the Planning Inspectorate and the Home Office that Cherwell District Council raises no objection to Crown application CROWN/2026/0000004 / Cherwell reference 26/01402/CROWN, subject to: 

1.  The Secretary of State being satisfied that the submitted national need, operational need and security evidence justifies the proposed expansion of Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre; 

2.  The Secretary of State being satisfied that the proposal constitutes Grey Belt development which is not inappropriate development for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework, or, in the alternative, that very special circumstances exist which clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and any other harm; 

3.  The development being controlled by planning conditions covering the matters set out in this report; and 

4.  Any necessary planning obligations, Crown undertaking or other binding mechanism being secured to address travel plan monitoring, public transport and active travel mitigation, off-site biodiversity net gain, highway works, monitoring and any other mitigation required to make the development acceptable in planning terms. 

Resolved

(1)        That the committee authorise officers in consultation with the Portfolio Holder and Chair of the Planning Committee to write to the Secretary of State, the Planning Inspectorate and the Home Office that Cherwell District Council objects to Crown application CROWN/2026/000004/ Cherwell reference 26/01402/CROWN, unless the items listed in the recommendation in the officer’s response have been addressed.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Development Management which recommend the Committee authorise officers to advise the Secretary of State, the Planning Inspectorate and the Home Office that Cherwell District Council, as local planning authority, raised no objection in principle to the proposed crown development subject to:

1. The Secretary of State being satisfied that the submitted national need, operational need and security evidence justifies the proposed expansion of Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre.
2. The Secretary of State being satisfied that the proposal constitutes Grey Belt development which is not inappropriate development for the purposes of the National Planning Policy Framework, or, in the alternative, that very special circumstances exist which clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and any other harm.
3. The imposition of planning conditions
4. The imposition of a legal agreement to mitigate the impact of the development 

In introducing the report, the Principal Planning Officer explained that the application was made by the Home Office under the Crown development procedure. It would be determined by the Planning Inspectorate. Cherwell District Council was a consultee on the application.

The application was an outline planning application with all matters reserved (except for access) for the expansion of Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre comprising the development of new accommodation blocks and ancillary supporting accommodation, the conversion of existing site infrastructure, demolition of existing structures, creation of additional car parking, landscaping and associated site infrastructure.

It was proposed by Councillor Smith and seconded by Councillor Mawson that the Committee authorise officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder and Chair of the Planning Committee, to write to the Secretary of State, the Planning Inspectorate and the Home Office to advise that Cherwell District Council objects to the application subject to:

a)    The imposition of planning conditions

b)    The imposition of a legal agreement to mitigate the impact of the development 

c)    Matters requiring resolution before permission could be sorted listed below:

1. The Secretary of State must be satisfied, on complete and robust evidence, that the additional capacity is necessary; that an expanded capacity of up to 400 detained persons is justified; that the proposed scale and form of development are proportionate; and that reasonable alternative sites, configurations and less harmful means of meeting the stated need have been properly assessed.
2. A transparent and complete Green Belt balance is required before determination as the development would cause harm to openness and to the Green Belt function of maintaining separation between settlements.
3. A detailed operational parking justification is required due to the proposed increase from 97 parking spaces to approximately 324/325 spaces.
4. Provision of a sufficient operations detail to demonstrate how the expanded facility would safely manage a materially larger population with differing individual risk and vulnerability profiles.
5. The Council requires clear confirmation and enforceable measures to ensure that the Technology Park’s present and future operation is not adversely affected.
6. Consideration of local community impact of the development and local opposition.
7. The Council requires binding and transparent arrangements to protect vulnerable people accommodated at the facility. Particular consideration must be given to LGBTQ+ persons; people with protected characteristics; victims of torture, trafficking or abuse; people with physical or mental health needs; and people detained solely under immigration powers, including those who have no criminal conviction.

Resolved

(1)      That the committee authorise officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Enforcement and Chair of the Planning Committee, to write to the Secretary of State, the Planning Inspectorate and the Home Office to advise that Cherwell District Council objects to Crown application CROWN/2026/000004/ Cherwell reference 26/01402/CROWN, unless the items that were raised and agreed by the Committee for inclusion in the officer’s response have been addressed.