Scottish council considering 'implications' of High Court block of asylum hotel

Key Points

Demonstrations have erupted in Scotland and England outside hotels housing asylum seekers
A council in England has won a temporary legal block on asylum seekers being housed in a hotel
Nigel Farage has urged councils where his party Reform UK holds sway to follow Epping’s legal challenge
The Home Office has warned that injunctions could incite further unrest and hinder its legal duty to house asylum seekers
Falkirk Council has told STV News it is considering the implications of the legal ruling south of the border
Other councils in Scotland, have said they are monitoring the situation

Falkirk Council is considering the “implications” of a court ruling that a hotel in England cannot be used to house asylum seekers.

On Tuesday, a High Court judge ruled that all the asylum seekers in the former Bell Hotel in Epping must be removed by September 12.

Thousands of people turned out in protest outside the hotel in Epping Forest after a man staying there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl.

Demonstrations have also taken place in locations throughout Scotland, including outside Falkirk’s Cladhan hotel.

A protest was also held outside the former Patio Hotel in Aberdeen on August 9. A hotel in the Summerhill area of the city was also the target of a recent demonstration.

The protests were met by counter-demonstrations.

According to the Scottish Refugee Council there are around 11,000 Asylum Seekers residing in Scotland as of March 2025. A total of 1,352 are housed in hotels throughout the country.

The local authority in Falkirk, which has one asylum contingency hotel, says it is considering the implications of the ruling south of the border.

The Mears-operated Cladhan Hotel is paid for entirely by the Home Office.

A council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the decision and are currently considering its implications.”

What do other Scottish councils say?

Protests have taken place at hotels throughout Scotland. Stand Up to Racism

In Glasgow, a former hotel operated by Mears is being used to house asylum seekers. The city council says it does not plan to take any legal action but will “monitor any potential impact.”

Moray Council, East Dunbartonshire Council, Perth and Kinross Council and Midlothian Council have also confirmed they will not be taking legal action following the ruling.

Dumfries and Galloway Council said it was aware of “recent developments in England”, however, it “will not be taking legal action”.

A spokesperson said: “Our council remains fully committed to meeting our statutory obligations and to ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals living in our region, including those seeking asylum.

“We continue to work constructively with partners at local and national levels to support fair and safe accommodation practices while minimising impacts on the local community.

“While we recognise the concerns raised elsewhere, our approach is grounded in collaboration, compassion and compliance with legal responsibilities.

“We will continue to monitor the national situation and engage with relevant stakeholders as appropriate.”

Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation, known as contingency accommodation, if they are awaiting assessment of their claim or have had a claim approved and there is not enough longer-term accommodation available.

The Home Office provides accommodation to asylum seekers who have no other way of supporting themselves on a “no choice” basis, so they cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to accommodation such as hotels and large sites, like former military bases.

In May, the National Audit Office said those temporarily living in hotels accounted for 35% of all people in asylum accommodation.

Labour has pledged to end the “costly use of hotels to house asylum seekers in this Parliament”.

It is thought there were more than 400 asylum hotels open in summer 2023.

Labour said this has since been reduced to fewer than 210.