For those who made written representations opposing the expansion of Campsfield IRC, you hopefully noticed an email from the Crown Development Applications team on Tuesday 25 August announcing that the application will now go to a public inquiry. You can read our blog about the proposal and the importance of this Crown Development Planning route here. 

We asked for the application to be refused. We also said that, if it was not refused at this stage, it should be examined through a full public inquiry.

UPDATES: On 2 September the Crown Applications website was updated with the date of the inquiry which will be held on 6 October.

The application could instead have been dealt with through written representations or a hearing. Written representations would mean the application was considered mainly through documents and written evidence. A hearing would involve a public discussion led by the Inspector, where people could explain their views and answer questions.

A public inquiry is the most formal procedure and allows more detailed questioning of the evidence behind the application. The Planning Inspectorate chooses between these procedures after the consultation period ends.

What is a public inquiry for the Crown Development Route?

An inquiry is the most formal procedure. It is not a court, but it can work in a similar way.

It is open to the public. Evidence can be examined and challenged, including through questions to witnesses. People and organisations can also have someone represent them, such as a lawyer or another advocate, but you do not need legal representation to take part.

The email announcing the inquiry explained that this procedure was chosen because:

“The application has generated considerable local interest; some of the issues raised are complex and the evidence would benefit from formal cross-examination.”

This means the inquiry will allow some of the evidence behind the Home Office’s application to be looked at and questioned in much more detail.

As we have previously explained, the Crown Development Route came into force on 1 May 2025. It allows Crown bodies, including government departments, to apply through this route for developments considered to be of national importance.

There are currently only a small number of applications going through this new process. One of these is the Sevington Inland Border Facility, which also went to a public inquiry in December 2025. The documents published for that case give us some useful examples of how this new process can work in practice, including written cases, witness evidence and a pre-inquiry meeting.

Who can take part in the public inquiry?

The formal rules allow individuals and organisations to ask to appear at the inquiry.

Some people may speak and explain their views or experience. Others may take a more formal role and provide detailed written evidence or bring witnesses. The evidence people bring will depend on their experience and knowledge. This could include:

• local knowledge about Campsfield and its impact on the surrounding area
• experience of how Campsfield operated in the past
• direct experience of immigration detention
• specialist knowledge about detention and the detention estate
• evidence about whether the Home Office has shown a need for the expansion
• technical evidence about planning, transport, the environment, buildings or other issues raised by the application

You do not need to be a planning expert to have something relevant to contribute. It will help to explain clearly what you know, how you know it and why it is relevant to the application.

If you want to take part in the public inquiry, email the Crown Development Applications team as soon as possible to say that you want to participate.

There will be deadlines for later stages of the inquiry, but these have not all been announced yet. The formal rules include different deadlines depending on how someone is taking part.

We also do not yet know whether people will be able to take part remotely or whether participation will be in person only. We will share more information when we know.

If you are thinking of taking part in the public inquiry, you can read some examples from Sevington’s public inquiry to understand what taking part can look like:

1. A community member speaking on behalf of The Village Alliance, a local community group representing residents of Mersham. 
2. A more formal Statement of Case submitted by Sevington with Finberry Parish Council and Mersham Parish Council.

These examples show that participating in an inquiry can look very different depending on the role you want to take. Some people may give a short statement based on their own or their community’s experience. Others may take a more formal role, setting out their case in detail and providing evidence or witnesses to support it.

What happens to the written representations people have already submitted?

The inquiry does not mean that the consultation starts again or that the written representations already submitted are ignored.

The Inspector will receive the application documents, the representations submitted during the consultation and other relevant documents.

The Inspector will therefore look at all of the written evidence already submitted, alongside any further written evidence and anything people say or are asked about during the inquiry.

There were 260 written submissions about the proposed expansion of Campsfield, with only two supporting the proposal.

What about the proposal to expand Haslar IRC?

The proposed expansion of Haslar IRC has also received a very large number of written representations with 491 submissions on the Crown Development website. The consultation closed shortly after Campsfield’s. You can read more about the plan to expand Haslar in our blog here.

We do not yet know whether Haslar will also go to a public inquiry. The Planning Inspectorate decides which procedure to use separately for each application and considers the circumstances of each case. If Haslar also goes to a public inquiry, what we learn from the Campsfield process will be useful for people opposing the Haslar expansion too.

Right to Remain and the Coalition to Close Campsfield have asked to take part in the Campsfield inquiry. We are also seeking legal advice and support to help us decide how best to participate.

We will keep sharing updates as we know more.