Inverness Cameron Barracks’ role in resettling Afghans who risked lives for the British Army to end as UK Home Office and Ministry of Defence react to increasing threat from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea
A historic army base in Inverness is to stop housing Afghans who risked their lives helping the UK armed forces during 20 years of conflict.
The 140-year-old Cameron Barracks in Inverness will return to full use by the armed forces after providing temporary accommodation for 11 families relocated to the UK under the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP).
The UK was part of a US-led coalition which withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021 after two decades of military action.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the barracks, along with other military sites, were being returned to full use by the armed forces due to heightened global tensions.
An MoD spokeswoman said: "The UK has a moral obligation to relocate and resettle Afghans eligible under the Afghan Resettlement Programme, many of whom worked with commitment and courage alongside the UK Armed Forces during their mission in Afghanistan, often at great personal risk.
“Since 2021 the UK government has been relocating Afghans and their families to the safety of the UK, away from the threat of the Taliban. We initially stood up sites in the Defence estate, including Cameron Barracks, as transitional accommodation - as a safe, interim solution.
“In December 2024, the Defence Secretary announced in Parliament that use of the Defence estate would reduce. The Defence estate is not an enduring solution and must return to its original purpose – to accommodate our Armed Forces and their families, and to combat the acute threats and destabilising behaviour of our adversaries.”
Those who are eligible under ARP have been given ‘indefinite leave to remain’ meaning they have the right to live, work and study in the UK indefinitely. The MoD stresses they are here legally and are not classed as asylum seekers, refugees or illegal immigrants.
The MoD also says the transitional accommodation will continue to be a mixture of serviced accommodation and hotels, alongside reduced use of the defence estate.
Under the resettlement programme, eligible Afghans are relocated to the UK and offered transitional accommodation for a maximum term of nine months.
During this period, they are supported to find their own settled accommodation, either in the private rental sector or through local authority housing. The MoD says transitional accommodation is not, and has never been, intended to be a permanent solution.
The spokeswoman added: “Transitional accommodation is provided as a safe, interim solution while the UK government continues to support households to find their own settled homes.
“We are working hard to unlock settled accommodation and return defence estate to routine use.”
The 11 families from Afghanistan were all relocated to the Highland Council area from December 2023.
The MoD is offering eight homes it owns as alternative temporary accommodation for those who will be displaced.
Afghans worked for and supported the UK armed forces in various roles, including as interpreters, but were left at great risk of retribution after coalition forces left the country.
UK ministers announced last December that use of the barracks and other MoD bases would be reduced, replaced by hotels and rented accommodation.
It followed warnings from senior military figures that Russia, China, Iran and North Korea posed an increasing threat to UK security.
A report to Highland Council's housing and property committee said Cameron Barracks was expected to be phased out of use over the spring and summer.
A spokesman for the council indicated discussions would continue with local authorities body Cosla on how humanitarian and resettlement programmes could be delivered in the coming months.
The council spokesman added: "The Home Office is the lead agency for refugee resettlement and Highland will await further announcements in due course on this issue."
Council officials are seeking councillors' support for an application for a City of Sanctuary designation, recognising the Highlands as a safe and welcoming haven for refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people.
Highland Council has already housed families from Syria and Ukraine and the authority’s housing and property committee is due to discuss the bid at a meeting next week.
Cameron Barracks, situated just off Millburn Road, opened in 1884 as an infantry depot and has long served as a base for the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.
