The UK government has ended the use of hotels for asylum seekers, shutting down 13 more hotels in the latest step to overhaul the asylum system. This move will save taxpayers £51 million and bring the total expected savings this year to £224 million. The hotels have been used as temporary accommodation while asylum claims are processed, but the arrangement has come under criticism for its cost and impact on local communities.
As part of the efforts, the government is shifting towards using larger, basic accommodation, including former military sites. The Home Office has begun discussions over three former Ministry of Defence sites that could eventually accommodate about 3,750 asylum seekers. The sites are MOD Bicester, MOD Barnham, and MOD Linton-on-Ouse. These sites will provide a more cost-effective solution for housing asylum seekers, allowing the government to reduce the reliance on hotels.
The government also aims to speed up asylum and immigration decisions, with record numbers of asylum decisions made since July 2024. Nearly 70,000 migrants have been removed from the country, and a new 24-week target has been set for deciding asylum and immigration appeals. This target will reduce the current average waiting time of 67 weeks, allowing cases to be resolved more quickly and reducing the amount of time people spend in taxpayer-funded accommodation.
The Immigration Minister, Anna Turley, stated that the government's reforms are overhauling the immigration system to restore control at the border and fairness to the immigration system. The government is committed to reducing the backlog of asylum cases and providing a more cost-effective solution for housing asylum seekers.
The 13 latest closures bring the total number of asylum hotels closed this year to 44. The hotels announced as closed are the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Loughborough; Chimney House Hotel, Sandbach; Britannia Ashley Hotel, Hale; Gold Thorn Hotel, Wolverhampton; Grand Metropole Hotel, Blackpool; Nottingham Hotel, Nottingham; Grosvenor Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon; Staycity Apartments Deptford Bridge, Lewisham; Needham House, Hitchin; Holiday Inn, Bridgwater; Holiday Inn Express, Dunstable; Dubrovnik Hotel, Bradford; and Best Western Brook Hotel, Norwich.
The government has also secured planning permission for three former military sites that are expected to accommodate about 3,750 asylum seekers. These sites include MOD Bicester, MOD Barnham, and MOD Linton-on-Ouse. The government plans to extend the use of existing military sites, including Crowborough until 2030 and Wethersfield beyond 2027.
The Immigration Minister, Anna Turley, stated that the government's reforms are overhauling the immigration system to restore control at the border and fairness to the immigration system. The government is committed to reducing the backlog of asylum cases and providing a more cost-effective solution for housing asylum seekers.