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UK closes 13 more asylum hotels, saving millions

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The UK government is closing 13 more hotels used for asylum seekers, bringing the total closures to 44 this year.
  • These closures are expected to save taxpayers £51 million, contributing to a larger reduction in asylum accommodation costs.
  • The move is part of a plan to end hotel use and relocate asylum seekers to larger, basic facilities, including former military sites.

The United Kingdom is continuing its plan to phase out the use of hotels for asylum seekers, announcing the closure of 13 more facilities. These hotels, now returned to local communities for various uses, bring the total number of closed asylum hotels this year to 44. The government anticipates these latest closures will save £51 million, adding to a significant reduction in accommodation costs since the 2024 general election.

Immigration Minister Anna Turley stated the government's determination to end the reliance on hotels, which she described as symbols of a broken asylum system. "We are turning that around by ending the use of asylum hotels for good and moving people into larger, basic accommodation like former military sites," Turley said. She emphasized that the reforms aim to overhaul the immigration system, restore border control, and ensure fairness.

For too long, communities have watched hotels at the centre of their towns and cities become symbols of a broken asylum system. We are turning that around by ending the use of asylum hotels for good and moving people into larger, basic accommodation like former military sites.

— Anna TurleyImmigration Minister Anna Turley explained the government's determination to end the use of hotels for asylum accommodation.

The closures are part of a broader strategy to relocate asylum seekers to larger, more basic accommodations, including former Ministry of Defence sites. Discussions are underway for three such sites in Bicester, Barnham, and Linton-on-Ouse, which could eventually house approximately 3,750 asylum seekers. The government is also extending the use of existing military sites.

These measures are accompanied by efforts to streamline the asylum process. The Home Office reported making record numbers of asylum decisions and removing nearly 70,000 migrants since July 2024. A new 24-week target for deciding asylum and immigration appeals for specific groups is set to take effect, aiming to reduce delays and speed up case resolutions and removals.

This government’s reforms are overhauling the immigration system to restore control at the border, and fairness to our immigration system.

— Anna TurleyImmigration Minister Anna Turley commented on the broader aims of the government's immigration reforms.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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