Key facts
- Epping Forest District Council sought an injunction to remove asylum seekers from the Bell Hotel.
- The council argued the hotel lacked planning permission for asylum seeker accommodation.
- The Home Office opposed the injunction, citing its legal duty to house asylum seekers.
- A judge ruled the hotel's use was in breach of planning law but refused the injunction.
- The British government won a court ruling that prevents the eviction of asylum seekers from the hotel.
- The decision allows the government to continue its plan to close hotels housing migrants by 2029.
A British regional council has lost its bid to have asylum seekers removed from a hotel in Epping, Essex, following a court ruling that will allow the government to continue its plans to close hotels housing migrants.
Epping Forest District Council had taken legal action to stop asylum seekers being housed in the Bell Hotel, approximately 20 miles north of London. The council argued that the hotel's owner did not possess the necessary planning permission to use the premises for accommodating asylum seekers.
However, Britain's Home Office opposed the injunction application. The ministry contended that an order requiring the removal of asylum seekers could significantly impact its legal obligation to provide accommodation and potentially lead to further disruptive protests.
Judge Tim Mould acknowledged that the current use of the Bell Hotel was in breach of planning law. Nevertheless, he declined to grant an injunction, citing, in part, the ongoing necessity to source contingency accommodation for asylum seekers from hotels.
The ruling means the government can proceed with its strategy to close all such hotels by the next general election, scheduled for 2029. As of the end of June, government figures indicated that over 30,000 migrants were being housed in hotels.
The decision drew criticism from political opponents, with Conservative home affairs spokesperson Chris Philp stating it was a "dark day for local democracy and a slap in the face to the people of Epping." Conversely, pro-migrant groups have suggested that far-right elements and opportunistic politicians are exploiting tensions in areas like Epping.