(LOUGHTON, ESSEX, UNITED KINGDOM) — Epping Forest District Council withdrew plans on December 23, 2025 to house up to 200 asylum seekers in the former Loppet Hall care home in Loughton after a consultation that drew more than 1,200 responses and heavy local opposition.
Decision and official statements
Chris Whitbread, leader of Epping Forest District Council, said in a council press release published December 23, 2025, at 4:15 PM GMT:
“After careful consideration of the overwhelming public feedback and logistical challenges, the council has decided not to proceed with housing asylum seekers at Loppet Hall.”
Council officials said the consultation received over 1,200 responses, with 92% opposing the proposal to use Loppet Hall, a former care home in Loughton (within Epping Forest in Essex).
Background of the proposal
- The plan had been due to start in January 2026 under the Home Office’s Dispersed Asylum Housing model.
- The Home Office had contracted Serco to use the site.
- Loppet Hall closed as a care home in 2023.
- The council said the building would require £500,000 in renovations, making the proposal uneconomical.
Local opposition and concerns
Local opposition included a petition with 2,300 signatures led by Sarah Jenkins, a local resident. The petition cited concerns about:
- Pressure on local GP services
- Strain on schools
- Impact on local transport
Epping Forest District Council also pointed to broader infrastructure concerns, saying Loughton lacks capacity. The council cited NHS data showing The Loughton Surgery (the nearest GP) already has 4-month wait times.
Residents demonstrated in person as well: on December 20, 2025, about 150 people protested outside Loppet Hall. The protest was organised by the Epping Forest Against Asylum Housing group, chaired by David Murray, a local businessman. Essex Police reported no arrests at the protest.
Home Office response and next steps
The Home Office confirmed on December 22, 2025 in a letter to the council signed by Matthew Rycroft, Director of Asylum Operations, that it would:
“seek alternative accommodations without penalty.”
Home Office officials said alternative sites were being identified in nearby Harlow and Chelmsford for the 200 asylum seekers originally earmarked for Loughton.
National context and pressures
- The Home Office has been trying to reduce reliance on hotels, which have been widely used to accommodate asylum seekers while claims are processed.
- Home Office statistics show a national backlog of 108,000 asylum cases as of November 2025. This backlog has driven efforts to find more sites through the Dispersed Asylum Housing model.
A Local Government Association (LGA) report from December 2025 said the Loughton decision aligns with 17 similar rejections by councils in 2025.
The LGA report also noted:
– The Home Office housed 52,000 asylum seekers in hotels as of Q3 2025.
– That cost was £8.3 million per day for hotel use.
– Councils are being asked to accommodate more people to shift away from hotels.
These pressures coincided with legislative changes under the Labour government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, passed July 10, 2025, which expedites deportations but increases dispersal needs.
Reactions from charities and local government
- Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, criticised the council’s withdrawal on December 23, 2025 in a BBC interview:
“This knee-jerk reaction exacerbates the hotel crisis and delays integration.”
- Claire Holland, LGA Asylum Lead, said in a December 24, 2025 statement:
“Councils face impossible choices with Home Office funding at £49.88 per asylum seeker per night, below actual costs.”
Council’s future plans for Loppet Hall
Epping Forest District Council said it will now market Loppet Hall for affordable housing, abandoning the earlier plan to use the site for asylum accommodation.
Key facts and timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Loppet Hall closed as a care home |
| November 2025 | National asylum backlog: 108,000 cases |
| Q3 2025 | 52,000 asylum seekers housed in hotels; cost £8.3 million/day |
| July 10, 2025 | Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill passed |
| December 20, 2025 | 150-person protest outside Loppet Hall |
| December 22, 2025 | Home Office letter from Matthew Rycroft offering to seek alternatives |
| December 23, 2025 | Council withdrew Loppet Hall asylum plan (press release at 4:15 PM GMT) |
| December 24, 2025 | LGA statement from Claire Holland on funding shortfalls |
What happens next
- The council will market Loppet Hall for affordable housing.
- The Home Office is identifying alternative sites in nearby towns (Harlow and Chelmsford) for the 200 asylum seekers.
- Councils and the Home Office continue to seek ways to relieve hotel use while managing local capacity and public concern.
Important: The controversy highlights a national tension between the need to reduce hotel use for asylum accommodation and local infrastructure limits and public opposition.
For more information:
– eppingforestdc.gov.uk
– gov.uk/asylum-accommodation
– Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
Epping Forest District Council canceled a proposal to house 200 asylum seekers at Loppet Hall after a consultation with 1,200 responses showed 92% opposition. Concerns over GP wait times and a £500,000 renovation bill led to the withdrawal. The Home Office will now look for alternative sites in Harlow and Chelmsford, while the council plans to repurpose the building for affordable housing.
