Overview

• Somani Hotels and the Home Office are appealing a High Court order that barred the Bell Hotel in Epping from accommodating asylum seekers beyond September 12.
• Mr Justice Eyre granted the interim injunction on planning grounds and declined to let the Home Office intervene, prompting both the department and the hotel owner to seek appeals.
• The Court of Appeal hearing begins at 10am before Lord Justice Bean, Lady Justice Nicola Davies and Lord Justice Cobb at the Royal Courts of Justice.
• Local authorities nationwide are examining similar legal routes after weeks of protests at the Bell Hotel and other sites, raising the prospect of further court-ordered restrictions.
• Separately, ministers are in talks with councils about taking over nearly £5bn in accommodation contracts, as the Refugee Council urges a one‑off temporary‑permission scheme for five nationalities to close hotels as early as 2026.