(INVERNESS, UNITED KINGDOM) Opposing rallies are taking place in Inverness as ministers push ahead with plans to use Cameron Barracks as transitional accommodation for up to 300 asylum seekers from early December 2025, in a move that has exposed deep concern in a city with a relatively small population and strong feelings about community cohesion.
What the government plans to do
The UK Government has confirmed that the former military site on the edge of Inverness will be turned into basic, self-contained housing for single adult men aged 18 to 65 who are seeking asylum.
Officials say the accommodation at Cameron Barracks is meant to be temporary — for about 12 months — and forms part of a broader push to find cheaper, large-scale sites rather than relying on hotels across the country.
According to the plans:
– The asylum seekers housed at the Inverness barracks will not be detained and will be free to leave the site.
– The site will be run as a managed facility with staff and support services on-site.
– The Home Office says essential services will be provided on-site to reduce pressure on local health, welfare, and other public resources in and around the Highland capital.
Purpose and national context
Ministers have stressed that asylum applications will not be processed in Inverness. Instead, Cameron Barracks is meant to act as short-term accommodation while people wait for their cases to move forward and for later dispersal to other parts of the United Kingdom.
In government terms, this is framed as a “transitional” use of a military training base that already has basic housing, security, and infrastructure in place.
Officials present the move as part of a broader national response to the number of people seeking asylum in the UK. They argue that using existing Ministry of Defence estates such as Cameron Barracks offers a way to house asylum seekers in basic but self-contained accommodation rather than in more expensive and scattered hotel rooms.
Local reaction and concerns
The decision has angered and worried many residents, with separate rallies in support of and against the plan taking place in Inverness.
Those opposed say:
– The scale of the proposal is out of step with the size of the city and the capacity of local services.
– Bringing up to 300 single adult male asylum seekers to Cameron Barracks at once risks putting strain on community relations.
– An area like Inverness does not have the same level of services as larger cities, increasing the risk of tension.
Community groups are divided:
– Some campaigners urge compassion, stressing that the asylum seekers are people fleeing war, persecution, or hardship.
– Others argue the issue is about process and scale, not whether the men deserve help, and call for full partnership with local authorities and clearer information.
“If the UK Government wants to use barracks in the Highlands, it must do so in full partnership with local authorities and with much clearer information for residents.”
Questions from Highland Council
The Highland Council has raised serious concerns. Councillors were first told of the proposal on October 27, 2025, through a confidential notification from the UK Government.
Since then, the council has repeatedly pressed the Home Office for much more detailed information, including:
– Why Inverness was chosen rather than another location.
– How ministers plan to protect community cohesion once people begin to arrive.
– What contact there will be between asylum seekers and local services, voluntary groups, and neighbours.
– How long individuals will stay in Inverness before being moved on.
– How many people will be on site at any one time.
– What measures will be in place if tensions arise.
A special meeting of the Highland Council was held on November 6, 2025, to consider the plans, the limited information provided so far, and the reaction across the city. Elected members questioned both the scale and speed of the proposal, highlighting the short notice before the expected December start date and the lack of clear detail about day-to-day management of the site.
Government reassurances and commitments
The UK Government, working through the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office, has tried to reassure local people that safety and respect will be at the centre of operations at Cameron Barracks.
Ministers say they will:
– Work closely with the Highland Council, Police Scotland, and local community partners to manage the site.
– Use a controlled location with on-site services to limit the impact on schools, hospitals, housing, and other key services in Inverness.
However, the government has not publicly explained why Inverness itself was selected, and that lack of explanation has become a central complaint from local leaders.
National and media context
National rules on asylum support, published by the Home Office and available on the UK Government website, set out the basic housing and financial assistance that people seeking asylum can receive while their claims are considered. The general framework is explained in official guidance on asylum support, which describes how accommodation is usually provided on a no-choice basis and often in large centres or shared housing.
Specialist immigration news outlets have been tracking similar debates around the use of former military sites elsewhere. VisaVerge.com reports that local reaction often turns on the same themes raised in Inverness:
– The size of proposed sites
– The speed of central government decisions
– Fears that already stretched local services will not cope with a sudden increase in population
Key facts (at a glance)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Proposed site | Cameron Barracks, Inverness |
| Capacity | Up to 300 asylum seekers |
| Intended residents | Single adult men aged 18–65 |
| Start date | From early December 2025 |
| Intended duration | About 12 months |
| Processing of asylum claims | Not processed in Inverness — site is transitional accommodation |
Potential impacts and next steps
Council members and community figures have pointed to Inverness’s size and geography, saying that placing a large group of asylum seekers in one facility could make integration harder rather than easier.
Some residents fear the sudden arrival of hundreds of new people — all men and in a similar age group — could create tension, especially if there is little interaction with the wider community or clear communication from authorities.
With rallies on both sides and calls for more detail mounting, the pressure is now on the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence to explain exactly how the barracks will operate before the first men arrive in the Highlands.
Key takeaway: while the plan is to house up to 300 asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks for about 12 months, many residents and councillors believe the political and social effects could last much longer.
The government will convert Cameron Barracks near Inverness into temporary housing for up to 300 single adult male asylum seekers from early December 2025 for about 12 months. Accommodation will be basic, self-contained and managed with on-site services; claims will not be processed in Inverness. Local councils and residents have expressed concern over scale, speed and lack of information, and demand clearer partnership and operational details before arrivals.
