Overview

• A three-judge panel—Lord Justice Bean, Lady Justice Nicola Davies and Lord Justice Cobb—overturned the interim High Court order, allowing the Home Office and Somani Hotels to appeal and keeping roughly 138 residents at the hotel for now.
• The court said the Home Office is plainly directly affected given its statutory duty, echoing arguments that the injunction would strain capacity and cause hardship for those housed at the site.
• Epping Forest District Council had secured the 19 August injunction on planning grounds after weeks of protests and public‑order concerns outside the Bell Hotel.
• Essex Police issued a Section 60AA order banning face coverings around the hotel as further demonstrations were anticipated.
• Multiple councils are seeking legal advice on similar bids, a development watched nationally as 32,059 asylum seekers were in UK hotels at the end of June, according to official data.