United Kingdom closes 13 more hotels used for asylum seekers

The UK government has announced the closure of 13 additional hotels across England currently being used to house asylum seekers. This move is part of a broader strategy to end the use of hotels for asylum accommodation and transition individuals to larger sites, such as former military facilities.

The latest closures, which include Nottingham’s Britannia Hotel, are expected to save taxpayers approximately £51 million. This brings the total expected savings from hotel closures this year to £224 million. Following these closures, fewer than 160 hotels remain in use nationwide, a significant decrease from the peak of nearly 400 hotels in 2023.

Immigration Minister Anna Turley stated that the government is working to overhaul the immigration system to restore border control and fairness. The government noted that asylum accommodation costs have decreased by nearly £1 billion since the 2024 general election. The repurposed hotels are expected to return to commercial use, potentially supporting local businesses and jobs.