Home Office to appeal Epping asylum hotel decision

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the Government wishes to close all asylum hotels in a "managed and ordered way" and "that is why we will appeal this decision".

The appeal concerns the High Court's refusal to allow the Home Office to intervene in the case, according to a report from the BBC.

The hotel owners are also set to appeal the injunction order, according to their solicitors.

Epping Forest District Council secured interim relief on Tuesday (19 August) after arguing the use of the Bell Hotel to house refugees was a change of use that required planning permission.

In Epping Forest District Council v Somani Hotels Ltd [2025] EWHC 2183 (KB), Mr Justice Eyre found the balance of convenience weighed in favour of granting an interim injunction ahead of a full injunction hearing at a later date.

The decision has triggered a number of local authorities to seek legal advice on launching challenges against similar hotel usage in their own areas, including Spelthorne Borough Council and Broxbourne Borough Council.

Andrew Fraser-Urquhart KC meanwhile told Local Government Lawyer the transferability of Eyre J's decision meant that it was "quite likely" other councils will use the case to pursue their own legal action.

Adam Carey

See also: What the Epping Forest injunction case means for local authorities across England - Jack Barber looks at the lessons from Epping Forest District Council’s successful application for an interim injunction against the accommodation of asylum seekers in a local hotel.