Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government is examining military and industrial sites, including warehouses, as alternatives to hotels for housing asylum seekers.
The plan comes as ministers aim to phase out hotel use, which has faced local opposition and legal challenges.
Councils such as Wirral and Tamworth have already sought legal action to end hotel placements.
The Home Office is also reviewing sites like Wethersfield and Napier Barracks.
The move is part of a broader asylum reform package that includes extra border security funding and a hiring boost for the National Crime Agency.
