A residents' group, Crowborough Shield, faced a setback as their high court challenge against a Home Office decision to use an army training camp in East Sussex for asylum housing was dismissed. The group had raised over £100,000 through crowdfunding to challenge the Home Office's plans, which involved housing up to 540 men at the camp. The legal action was initiated after the Home Office's announcement in October concerning the potential use of the camp, although actual occupation did not begin until January when 27 men were housed at the site.

During the court proceedings, Mr Justice Mould ruled in favor of home secretary Shabana Mahmood, asserting that the residents could not oppose a decision that had not yet been formally enacted. The group's lawyer, Alex Goodman KC, argued that preparations for the site’s utilization should be viewed as part of the decision-making process. However, the court maintained that the judicial review could not proceed until the Home Office had finalized its plans.

The outcome of this ruling carries significant implications for the residents of East Sussex and the government's approach to housing asylum seekers. As local populations often push back against such initiatives due to various concerns including safety and infrastructure, this case underscores the broader tension between government policy and local community sentiment regarding the accommodation of asylum seekers in United Kingdom.