Tensions over asylum accommodations in England have taken another twist, with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper quietly agreeing to close a second hotel that had sparked local protests.
The decision comes after South Norfolk Council threatened legal action reminiscent of the high-profile Epping case.
Last month, protesters gathered outside the Park Hotel in Diss when the Home Office announced plans to replace migrant families with lone male asylum seekers.
South Norfolk Council opposed the move and warned it would use planning laws to block the change.
Despite this, the Home Office initially pushed forward with the plan just two weeks ago.
Park Hotel Set to Close
Now, the Home Office has confirmed that the Norfolk hotel will no longer house asylum seekers.
The closure is expected by the end of August, with officials already beginning the process of relocating migrants.
Daniel Elmer, Tory leader of South Norfolk Council, praised the decision, saying the council “had to make a stand” for the local community.
“The Home Office thought it could just impose this change and that we would accept it.
But there is a right way of doing things and a wrong way, and the decision by the Home Office was just plain wrong,” he told reporters.
Home Office Reduces Use of Hotels
A Home Office spokesperson explained that the closure is part of a wider effort to reduce the number of hotels used for asylum accommodation.
“Since taking office, we have taken immediate action to fix the asylum system.
From over 400 asylum hotels open in summer 2023, costing almost £9 million a day, there are now fewer than 210,” the spokesperson said.
They added that the government will continue working with partners across the UK to manage asylum accommodation responsibly and will not use the Park Hotel beyond the end of the current contract.
Legal Pressure Mounts Across the Country
The closure comes just days after a High Court ruling ordered the Home Office to remove migrants from the Bell Hotel in Essex following a legal challenge by Epping Forest District Council.
The ruling has raised concerns that Labour’s asylum system could face widespread disruption if councils launch similar legal challenges.
Tory leadership is encouraging councils to take action.
Kemi Badenoch recently met with Tory councillors to support them in pursuing legal action against migrant hotels nationwide.
Holly Whitbread, the councillor who led the Epping council campaign, joined the discussions, emphasizing the national pressure being placed on Ms. Cooper.
Chaos Fears and Upcoming Appeals
Ms. Cooper has warned that forcing closures of migrant hotels through isolated court decisions could plunge the asylum system into “chaos.”
Meanwhile, the Bell Hotel’s owners, Somani Hotels, will have their appeal against the High Court injunction heard shortly, keeping the legal battle ongoing.
As the situation unfolds, the government is balancing public protests, council challenges, and the operational needs of the asylum system — with more decisions likely in the coming weeks.
