Overview

• The Court of Appeal set aside the 19 August High Court order after backing appeals by the Home Office and Somani Hotels, allowing residents to remain past 12 September.
• Lord Justice Bean, sitting with Lady Justice Nicola Davies and Lord Justice Cobb, said the original injunction was "seriously flawed in principle" and warned that sudden closures would strain capacity and could fuel further protests.
• The Home Office argued the injunction risked encouraging similar actions by councils nationwide, creating a disruptive precedent as authorities elsewhere consider legal routes to restrict hotel use.
• Epping Forest District Council said it will continue its planning-law challenge at a full High Court hearing in the autumn, while Essex Police maintain public‑order measures including a Section 60AA face‑covering ban after recent demonstrations.
• Ministers highlight the statutory duty to accommodate asylum seekers and are preparing contingency plans, with official data showing 32,059 people in hotels at the end of June.