Government appeals High Court ruled to force closure of Ep Immigration Hotels
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is preparing to appeal a High Court ruling that ordered the closure of immigrant hotels in Essex, after the case could set a precedent for shelter throughout the UK.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis confirmed on Wednesday that the Interior Department would seek to overturn the temporary ban, forcing the Bell Hotel to close in Epping.
He said the government wants to ensure hotel closures are carried out in a controlled and coordinated manner under the leadership of the Ministry of Home Affairs and its contractors.
The legal battle was created after the Epin Forest District Council successfully argued that the Bell Hotel needed to redefine planned permits as long-term accommodation for asylum seekers. The High Court ordered all residents to leave by September 12, 2025 unless the hotel owner, Somani Hotels, successfully appealed.
The ruling comes months after the controversy surrounding the location, which has become a flashpoint for anti-immigration protests. Councillors believe public safety issues and the location’s proximity to schools and nursing homes are the reasons for legal action.
Home Office lawyers warned that the decision could put other councils in a similar legal challenge, thus forming what they call a “new norm” that would intensify pressure on British shelters.
Mr Jarvis said: “This government will close all shelter hotels and we will clear the chaos of inheritance from the previous government. But these closures need to be done in a managed and orderly manner. That’s why we will appeal this decision.”
The government has pledged to close all shelter hotels by the end of this parliament in 2029, in line with the Labor Party’s election manifesto.
Currently, the country can accommodate up to 32,000 asylum seekers.
The Interior Ministry had previously tried to intervene in the Epin case but was rejected by a judge, who said his involvement would not be able to substantially assist the planned dispute. Officials argue that removing asylum seekers too quickly could increase tensions and even increase the risk of violent protests.
The Security Minister stressed that while the government is determined to end hotel use for sheltered accommodation, doing so “in an orderly manner” is crucial to protecting residents and communities.
The ruling has prompted other councils, including labor-control authorities, to threaten similar legal challenges. Planning lawyers suggest that Epin’s decision could reshape how to manage immigrant accommodation, forcing the Interior Department to seek program permission before repurposing the hotel in the future.
