The Home Office and Bell hotel owners have appealed an injunction from Epping Forest District Council that prevents 138 asylum seekers being housed at the Bell beyond 12 September. The hotel became the focus of protests after an asylum seeker housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl; the accused denies the offence. A high court judge granted the interim injunction after the council alleged Somani Hotels breached planning rules. The Home Office and Somani argue the council's action was motivated by protests. The council had known of possible planning breaches for years but had not previously enforced them. The hotel hosted single adult male asylum seekers during multiple periods between 2020 and 2025.
A ban on housing asylum seekers at a protest-hit hotel would have a serious impact on the government's ability to house refugees and could incite further demonstrations, the court of appeal has heard. The Home Office and the owners of the Bell hotel in Essex have launched an appeal against the temporary injunction granted to Epping Forest district council (EFDC) last week. They are seeking to challenge a high court ruling that will stop 138 asylum seekers from being housed there beyond 12 September.
Robin Green, representing the authority, said: A decision not to take enforcement action at one point in time does not mean it cannot take a different decision at a later point in time if circumstances change. On the evidence, circumstances had undoubtedly changed. The hotel has housed single adult male asylum seekers since April 2025, and from October 2022 to April 2024. It had also accommodated asylum seekers from May 2020 to March 2021.
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