UK Closes 13 Asylum Hotels, Transitioning to Military Sites

The United Kingdom government announced the closure of 13 hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers, as stated by the Home Office on Wednesday. This decision brings the total number of asylum hotels closed in April, June, and August to 44, with fewer than 160 remaining in use.

The closures are expected to save taxpayers £51 million, contributing to a total of £224 million in expected savings from this year’s hotel closures. The hotels being returned to local communities include those in Blackpool, Nottingham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Lewisham, Bradford, and Norwich.

The government plans to relocate asylum seekers to larger, basic facilities, including former military sites, with discussions underway regarding three Ministry of Defence sites that could accommodate about 3,750 asylum seekers. Immigration Minister Anna Turley emphasized the government's commitment to ending the use of hotels for asylum accommodation, aiming to restore control and fairness to the immigration system.

The Home Office also announced a new 24-week target for deciding asylum appeals, significantly reducing the current average wait time of 67 weeks.