A new map reveals the locations of all 44 asylum hotels that have now closed across the UK. It was recently confirmed that hotels in Stevenage, Crawley and Leyland would close as accommodation for asylum seekers by the end of the year.
Why hotels are closing
Many are closing to reduce high taxpayer costs and transition occupants to alternative housing. It is reported that commercial asylum hotels currently cost taxpayers around £9 million per day, and the government hopes to reduce this figure by moving migrants into standard Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) or former military sites.
The Labour Party hopes to phase out the use of hotels for asylum accommodation by 2029. They said the move will save taxpayers over £1 billion.
Protests and local concerns
British people have repeatedly protested against the use of local hotels to house asylum seekers. Some protests have developed into rioting, with particularly tense standoffs occurring outside hotels in Epping, Canary Wharf, Bristol and Nuneaton.
Local anxiety peaked after criminal allegations, including after an asylum seeker staying at The Bell Hotel, in Epping, was charged with sexually assaulting a child. Other protesters have expressed discomfort regarding the rapid introduction of groups of primarily young and single men into their communities.
Recent closures and political reactions
One hotel that was recently confirmed to close as asylum accommodation is the Novotel at Junction 7 of the A1(M) near Stevenage. The local Labour MP, Kevin Bonavia, welcomed the move and said it was "good news" for his constituency.
He said: "We can have an asylum system that treats people with humanity and dignity, while being fair to taxpayers and communities."
In Crawley, the Copthorne Hotel will also be closed as an asylum hotel by the end of 2026. The area's Conservative MP, Mins Davies, said the locals "want their hotel back" as a "community asset for events, accommodation and for the local economy."
Decline in hotel numbers
The number of asylum hotels peaked under the former Conservative Government, with 402 in use by the summer of 2023. By July 2024, that number had halved, then fell further to 160 by June this year.
A spokesman for the Home Office said previously: "The Government is closing every asylum hotel, saving taxpayers over £1billion on asylum support since the election. We are working to fairly house asylum seekers across the country, moving asylum seekers into alternative accommodation, including former military sites, which are designed to be self-contained to reduce impact on the local community. As part of the process, we engage with local authorities and police forces to ensure the safety and security of those in the surrounding area."
