Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, is preparing to appeal a High Court ruling that ordered the closure of a migrant hotel in Essex, amid warnings the case could set a precedent for asylum housing across the UK.
Dan Jarvis, the security minister, confirmed on Wednesday that the Home Office will seek to overturn the temporary injunction forcing the shutdown of the Bell Hotel in Epping.
He said the government wanted to ensure hotel closures were carried out in a controlled and coordinated manner, led by the Home Office and its contractors.
The legal battle was triggered after Epping Forest District Council successfully argued that the Bell Hotel required planning permission to be repurposed as long-term accommodation for asylum seekers. The High Court ordered all residents to leave by 12 September 2025, unless the hotel’s owner, Somani Hotels, launches a successful appeal.
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