Locals are hoping history does not repeat itself - with 1,200 'asylum seekers' earmarked to flood in

The North Yorkshire village of Linton-on-Ouse is once again facing the prospect of an asylum centre on their doorstep after the Government revived plans to use the former RAF base to house up to 1,200 asylum seekers.

The village is home to around 700 people, meaning its population could almost triple if the plans go ahead. Linton locals successfully fought off similar proposals under Boris Johnson's Conservative Government in 2022. Now, under Labour, they hope history will repeat itself.

The proposals form part of the Home Office's plan to end the use of asylum hotels before the next general election, with ministers considering three former Ministry of Defence sites capable of housing up to 3,750 asylum seekers.

"Military bases are the future for asylum accommodation," Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told peers last week.

The Government has argued that replacing asylum hotels with former military sites will reduce costs and help bring the asylum system under control. Migrant hotels have been the focus of anti-migrant protests in recent years.

As of March 2026, 20,885 asylum seekers (21 per cent) remained in hotels, down from a peak of 56,000 in September 2023. The Home Office said last month that 170 hotels are still being used.

Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said the Government was "moving asylum seekers into ex-military sites" because "the asylum system is being brought back under control, and we will not stop until the job is done."

But the proposals have prompted concern among residents, business owners and politicians in the surrounding area. A spokesman for the Linton Action Group Facebook page, Professor Olga Matthias, told GB News that "Linton is categorically the wrong place, for so many reasons."

While some locals fear the proposals could damage the local housing market, Churchill Estate Agents told GB News they had not seen any evidence of falling prices or reduced sales.

The firm dismissed those concerns, saying instead they had "noticed a slight uptick in Linton-on-Ouse residents' joyfulness, as they skip around the village basking in the knowledge at helping their suffering fellow man," before adding that residents' fears were "figments of your imagination".

The village, which is littered with "Wrong place, wrong time – stop the Linton-on-Ouse asylum centre" signs, tells a different story.

One resident said they knew of buyers who had pulled out of property purchases after hearing about the plans, and claimed new families moving into former RAF accommodation, located in the heart of the village, had been unaware of the proposals.

RAF Linton-on-Ouse opened its doors in 1937, and saw Lancaster bombers taking off for missions during the Second World War. Prince William also completed part of his helicopter training there.

In 2022, plans to house 1,500 migrants fell through after the Ministry of Defence withdrew its permission to utilise the former RAF base, which shut down in 2019. One major concern was utility supply - that does not appear to have changed.

When asked if those concerns may have been lifted, Prof Matthias explained: "The answer is that nothing has changed, but obviously that isn't true; when you have four years of nothing, things actually deteriorate."

She added: "In 2022, it was deemed unsuitable, the idea was closed down - seemingly, permanently. It is now being reopened as an idea. If something was nonsense in 2022, putting it in a cupboard and not talking about it for four years, and then bringing it back out again, doesn't make it sensible."

Conservative MP for Wetherby and Easingwold, Sir Alec Shelbrooke, said: "Utility supply remains a significant barrier and one that I and the local action group will be pressing hard.

"The Home Office proposal is to use the former base for three years, but it would take this time to upgrade the supply to site. The same can be said for water supply."

Northern Powergrid declined to comment when approached by GB News. Yorkshire Water has also been approached for comment.

Linton is one of three Ministry of Defence sites being considered as part of Shabana Mahmood's plan, along with other disused military bases in Bicester, a market town in Oxfordshire, and the small village of Barnham in Suffolk.

One resident, who moved to Linton just months ago, said the parish's size meant there was "just nothing to do here". The village has no shop, one pub, and a primary school situated close to the proposed accommodation site, they said.

The local also raised concerns about nearby Newton-on-Ouse, which is about a 15-minute walk away. "I just don't think it's right," they said.

"Newton is the only village or town in walking distance from Linton, so is the only place that they could really visit," a Newton resident explained.

"It's a small, quiet village which is not suited to large numbers of people coming through."

Local businesses have also expressed worry over the plans. The landlord of the Blacksmith Arms in neighbouring Newton-on-Ouse said he feared groups of asylum seekers could deter regular customers, adding: "It's fair to say that myself, family, and the entire community are totally against it."

Meanwhile, another local business owner explained that the "nonsense" plan should not go ahead, adding that families would no longer feel comfortable allowing young children to play outside and warning that life in the village "would never be the same again".

A visitor of the village, who was staying in the local bed and breakfast, said they were "totally against" the plans, adding: "We wouldn't stay in Linton. So the bed and breakfast, we've been going to them for years, they lose trade."

Labour’s mayor for York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, also criticised the proposal, claiming the base is "simply the wrong place".

Meanwhile, Sir Alec declared local opposition extended across the political spectrum, arguing "the only people supporting this plan are the Labour Government."

Councillor Malcolm Taylor voiced how many families had moved to the village since the original plans were abandoned, unaware the same problems could resurface.

"They've moved there for the peace, tranquillity and quality of life," he said. "This hand grenade has been thrown in."

Meanwhile, Prof Matthias urged fellow campaigners: "So, to the people who are affected, not just here, but by any other sites as well, that are mooted and possibly withdrawn because we have all been here before: Just keep digging up the facts."

When asked about the concerns locals have put forward, a Home Office spokesman said: "We are closing every asylum hotel and moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation, including ex-military sites.

"Five former military sites are being explored to house asylum seekers.

"We have already seen results. The population of asylum seekers in hotels has fallen by 35 per cent in the last year and by 63 per cent from the peak under the previous Government. Overall asylum costs have already fallen by nearly £1billion since this Government was elected."

No final decision has been taken on whether Linton-on-Ouse will be selected.