Migrant accommodation across the UK faces uncertainty following a High Court ruling that forced the closure of a hotel housing asylum seekers.
On Tuesday, Epping Forest District Council won a temporary injunction to shut down the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, after it was revealed that the hotel’s use for asylum accommodation breached local planning permission. As a result, all asylum seekers currently housed there must leave by September 12.
The court sided with the council’s argument that the building was no longer operating as a hotel, making the placement of asylum seekers a violation of planning laws. This ruling has prompted political figures and local authorities to consider similar legal challenges against migrant hotels in their areas.
Home Office lawyers attempted a last-minute intervention, warning that such legal actions could increase pressure on the asylum accommodation system and potentially incite further protests. They expressed concerns that local councils pursuing injunctions might become widespread, complicating government plans.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for peaceful protests nationwide and urged councils under his party’s control to pursue legal action against asylum hotels. He encouraged communities worried about undocumented migrants living locally to follow Epping’s example.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp echoed this sentiment, suggesting many councils might follow suit, potentially throwing the government’s asylum accommodation policy into disarray amid concerns over community safety and crime.
Conservative-run Broxbourne Borough Council announced it is urgently reviewing legal options to close a four-star asylum hotel in Hertfordshire.
More demonstrations are expected across the country over the upcoming bank holiday weekend, with protests planned in cities including Wakefield, Gloucester, Stevenage, Newcastle, and Bristol. Some demonstrations have ties to far-right groups, while others have counter-protests organised.
200 hotels housed asylum seekers
Currently, around 200 hotels are still used to house asylum seekers, roughly the same number as last summer. This follows record numbers of migrants crossing the channel this year, which has put additional strain on accommodation resources.
The Bell Hotel was first opened to migrants in 2020 under a Conservative government, closed last year by former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, then reopened by the Labour government amid rising arrivals.
Violent protests erupted last month after Hadush Kebatu, a 41-year-old Ethiopian asylum seeker residing at the Bell, was charged with multiple sexual offences, including allegations involving a minor. Kebatu denies the charges.
Following the court ruling, a small crowd gathered outside the Bell Hotel, celebrating the decision.
Angela Eagle, the government’s Border Security Minister, said the administration inherited “a broken asylum system” with over 400 hotels in use at its peak. She confirmed efforts continue to close all asylum hotels by the end of the current Parliament and pledged to work with local authorities to address concerns.
A Labour spokesperson accused Tory-led councils of politically motivated actions and claimed Reform and Conservative politicians were exacerbating tensions.
The Home Office sought to join the legal case but was refused by the judge. Their lawyers argued that closing the hotel could interfere with the government’s statutory duty to house asylum seekers under human rights law and risk breaching protections against inhumane treatment.
Despite protests and the serious charges against a resident, the Home Office maintained that the Bell Hotel was suitable accommodation.
The government cannot now intervene directly in the case, which will proceed to a full judicial review this autumn. The hotel’s owner, Somani Hotels, may appeal the injunction, potentially delaying migrant evictions.
The judge acknowledged the protests and disruptions caused but ruled that the balance of convenience favoured the temporary closure.
Epping Forest Council leader Chris Whitbread urged other councils to review their planning regulations and consider similar actions. He criticised the Home Office for a lack of consultation and coordination.
Meanwhile, ministers are exploring alternatives to hotel accommodation for asylum seekers, including partnering with councils to use vacant homes, disused tower blocks, student housing, and former training colleges as medium-sized housing sites.
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