Over Dozen UK Councils Plan Legal Action Against Asylum Seeker Hotels

Following a Court of Appeal ruling that overturned a temporary injunction preventing asylum seekers from being housed at The Bell Hotel in Epping, more than a dozen councils across the UK are persisting with legal actions to stop the use of local hotels for asylum accommodation. Epping Forest District Council, which initiated the injunction, is exploring further options including an appeal to the Supreme Court, while councils controlled by Reform UK and Conservatives, such as West Northamptonshire, Broxbourne, and Spelthorne, are also pursuing planning enforcement measures. These councils argue that the hotels have become public safety risks, breach planning permissions, and place unsustainable strains on local services, asserting that the premises are no longer functioning as hotels but effectively as hostels. The leader of Reform UK has encouraged all 12 councils under its control to continue seeking legal avenues, with some councils already issuing planning contravention notices to build evidence for their cases. The legal battles coincide with ongoing protests outside affected hotels, highlighting local discontent and political tensions around the government's handling of asylum seeker accommodation. A full High Court hearing is scheduled to determine the permanent status of The Bell Hotel’s use, while the government offers legal advisors to local authorities wishing to contest asylum housing policies.