Essex Asylum Hotel’s Flagrant Breach Hits High Court
Explosive Court Showdown: Essex Council Slams Migrant Hotel Moguls in Epic Battle Over Protests, Assaults, and Secret Gov Deals! Justice Hangs in Balance.
A High Court judge has heard claims that an Essex hotel housing asylum seekers is operating in flagrant breach of planning controls, as a local council pursues a permanent injunction to halt the arrangement. Epping Forest District Council alleges that Somani Hotels, owner of The Bell Hotel in Epping, has sidestepped planning laws by repurposing the site without permission, amid a backdrop of government contracts for migrant accommodation.
The Home Office, intervening in the case, opposes the move, arguing that such closures must be structured and gradual to avoid disrupting the asylum system. Mr Justice Mould, presiding at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, is overseeing the hearing expected to conclude on Friday.
Opening submissions on Wednesday detailed how the hotel’s use has allegedly shifted materially since October 2022, when it began housing asylum seekers in phases. Philip Coppel KC, representing the council, described the breach as serious, flagrant and continuing, driven by the lure of government-funded profits. He contended that the change has barred public access, preventing bookings or visits, and eliminated typical hotel contributions to local amenity.
No reviews appear on platforms like TripAdvisor, and the site no longer features in tourism publications, Coppel noted in written arguments. The barrister highlighted external alterations, including Heras fencing encircling the property, installed following protests. He argued that the setup attracts unlawful activity and strains community resources, such as local GP surgeries, without reciprocal benefits.
Coppel criticised Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood for allowing housing needs to influence her stance on the matter. The Conservative-led council seeks to enforce planning compliance, following a wave of similar disputes across authorities.
Earlier this year, a temporary injunction was granted to the council, requiring the removal of 138 asylum seekers by 12 September. However, the Court of Appeal overturned that ruling in August, deeming it seriously flawed in principle. James Strachan KC, for the Home Office, countered that block-booking rooms for asylum seekers does not constitute a change in the hotel’s core use.
He warned against granting the injunction, citing public interest concerns amid multiple local authorities pursuing comparable actions. Strachan emphasised the need for a measured approach to asylum hotel closures, against the pressures facing the national system. Jenny Wigley KC, acting for Somani Hotels, denied any planning violation, asserting that the council’s decision-making was itself seriously flawed.
She explained that the hotel had faced financial decline for years, predating its 2020 closure during the pandemic. A brief reopening for three months in August 2022 saw reduced usage, with the restaurant and conference facilities remaining shut due to lack of demand. Wigley stressed that no structural modifications occurred, and security fencing was added solely in response to hostile protests commencing in July 2025.
The protests followed the arrest of an individual at the hotel, prompting the council’s injunction application, she submitted. The barrister disputed claims of a material change, noting alignment with the Home Secretary’s position on the matter. The Bell Hotel became a focal point for demonstrations and counter-protests over the summer, some escalating to violence.
Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, who arrived in the UK by small boat shortly before, was jailed for 12 months in September for sexually assaulting a teenage girl in Epping. Another resident, Syrian national Mohammed Sharwarq, received a 16-week sentence last month for assaulting two fellow asylum seekers and two staff members.
Several individuals faced charges related to offences during the demonstrations outside the hotel. The council maintains that the hotel’s repurposing began in 2020, circumventing required permissions. Somani Hotels and the Home Office contend that the use remains within hotel classifications, with no breach established.
Proceedings adjourned at the end of the first day, with further evidence and submissions anticipated.
