Council applies for injunction against Bell Hotel owners

12 August 2025

Community news, Housing, planning and environment news, News

Epping Forest District Council has applied for an interim High Court injunction restraining the accommodation of asylum seekers at the Bell Hotel in Epping.

Documents were lodged with the High Court of Justice in London today, Tuesday 12 August 2025.

Citing the clear risk of further escalating community tensions and urgency of the need for the present situation to be brought under control, the council has applied for an injunction prohibiting the use of the Bell Hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers.

The council is also seeking a declaration that the use of the Bell Hotel for the purposes of accommodating asylum seekers is not use akin to use as a hotel, and accordingly not a permitted use for planning purposes. The council is asking in its application that the prohibition it is seeking is effective from 14 days of the injunction if granted.

Risk of further escalating community tensions

The current situation cannot go on. If the Bell Hotel was a nightclub we could have closed it down long ago.

So far as the council is aware, there is no criminal record checking of individuals who might only have been in the country a matter of days before being housed at the hotel. There are 5 schools and a residential care home within the vicinity of the hotel. The use by the Home Office of the premises for asylum seekers poses a clear risk of further escalating community tensions already at a high, and the risk of irreparable harm to the local community. This will only increase with the start of the new school year.

We are frustrated that the Home Office continues not to listen.

In our view placing asylum seekers in the Bell Hotel is a clear breach of planning permission. It is not in use as a hotel, and it doesn’t function as a hotel. The establishment of a centre to accommodate asylum seekers in this particular location, in close proximity to 5 schools, a residential care home, and the shops and amenities of the market town of Epping is not appropriate in planning terms.
Councillor Chris Whitbread, Leader of Epping Forest District Council

If the judge rules in favour of the council, Councillor Whitbread hopes this will be the catalyst to the prohibition of the use of the Bell Hotel as accommodation for asylum seekers.

Why has the council resorted to this action?

Epping has recently seen unprecedented levels of protest and disruption, and a series of arrests connected to local asylum seeker accommodation. This has required additional police officers to be drafted in from other forces under mutual aid provisions as Essex Police have been placed under severe pressure.

Following earlier appeals by the council leader, followed by local MPs, the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, and leader of Essex County Council to the Home Secretary, at the recent council meeting on 24 July 2025 Epping Forest councillors voted unanimously to call on the Home Office to immediately close the Bell. They also called for the phased closure of the Phoenix Hotel in North Weald.

However, so far, no substantive response has been received from the government.

Central government is not listening

We are doing this on behalf of our local community. We are a small district council. We have tried to help the Home Office see the situation cannot go on, but central government is not listening.

We should not have to take this fight to the High Court, but we are left with no choice. It is now up to the judge.
Councillor Chris Whitbread, Leader of Epping Forest District Council

Previous statements

Keep up to date

Keep in touch with our latest news, service updates and reports.