Epping hotel LIVE: Judges overturn asylum ruling as Cooper forces town to take migrants

The Home Office and the owner of the Bell Hotel in Epping have won a legal appeal that means the building can remain open as an accommodation for asylum seekers. Three senior judges have ruled that Yvette Cooper's department can intervene in the case related to a temporary injunction concerning the town in Essex. Somani Hotels, which owns the property, and the Home Office sought to challenge a High Court ruling which would have prevented 138 asylum seekers from being housed there beyond September 12.

On Friday, Lord Justice Bean, sitting with Lady Justice Nicola Davies and Lord Justice Cobb, said that Mr Justice Eyre made an "erroneous" decision not to let the department be involved. Reading a summary of their decision, Lord Justice Bean said the Home Office had a "constitutional role relating to public safety" and was affected by the issues. He continued: "The judge's approach ignores the obvious consequence that the closure of one site means capacity needs to be identified elsewhere in the system." Quashing the injunction, Lord Justice Bean also said: "We grant permission to appeal, both to Somani and to (the Home Office)." He continued: "We allow the appeals and we set aside the injunction imposed on 19 August 2025."

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