Court Expected to Rule on Injunction Blocking 138 Asylum Seekers at Epping Hotel

Three senior judges are set to rule on whether to overturn a High Court injunction blocking 138 asylum seekers from being housed at the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, with the judgment expected at 2pm on Friday due to the urgency of the matter. The injunction was granted after Epping Forest District Council claimed the hotel breached planning rules, but the Home Office and Somani Hotels, which owns the property, are challenging it, arguing that asylum seeker rights under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights should take precedence over local planning controls. The Home Office warned that upholding the injunction could create a chaotic approach, encouraging other authorities to seek similar court actions and potentially sparking protests at other asylum accommodation sites. The hotel, nearly empty before housing asylum seekers, views the contract as a crucial lifeline for its struggling business, while the Home Office expressed concern that the injunction risks setting a precedent that would seriously impact the government's ability to house vulnerable people. Meanwhile, peaceful protests have occurred outside the hotel, with police managing the demonstrations and enforcing restrictions on face coverings. The ongoing legal and political challenges highlight broader systemic issues in the UK's asylum system, including a growing backlog of appeals and debates over the use of hotels for asylum accommodation.