Immigration Minister Anna Turley issues big update on future asylum seeker use of Blackpool's Metropole Hotel
Joined by Blackpool South’s Labour MP Chris Webb, Ms Turley said she was officially ‘handing back ‘ Blackpool’s only shoreline promenade hotel to the town as she revealed she had ended its use as an asylum hotel for good.
The UK’s Immigration Minister Anna Turley visited Blackpool today to deliver a big announcement outside the resort’s Metropole Hotel.
Joined by Blackpool South’s Labour MP Chris Webb, Mrs Turley said she was officially ‘handing back ‘ Blackpool’s only shoreline promenade hotel to the town as she revealed she had ended its use as an asylum hotel for good.
Two other North West hotels, the Chimney House Hotel in Sandbach and the Britannia Ashley Hotel in Hale, also used recently to house asylum seekers were handed back to the respective communities.
Back in July, The Gazette confirmed that asylum seekers who had been staying at the seafront hotel had been moved to alternative Home Office accommodation, marking the end of a long campaign to return The Metropole to its former glory as a tourist hotel.
Speaking on Blackpool Promenade, Immigration Minister Anna Turley said The Metropole can once again attract visitors, support local jobs and drive footfall to nearby cafés, shops, restaurants and attractions, helping the town centre and local economy thrive.
She said: “For too long, communities in the North West 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.
"This Government’s reforms are overhauling the immigration system to restore control at the border, and fairness to our immigration system."
The closures form part of the Home Secretary’s major plans to restore control to the border and fairness to Britain's immigration system.
This includes removing the incentives that encourage illegal migration and ramping up removals of those with no right to be here. It means ensuring sanctuary is provided to those who genuinely need it, but also that the burden on local communities is lightened.
Today's announcement follows closely on the heels of 11 asylum hotel closures in April and a further 20 in June, meaning less than 160 now remain in use and tens of millions of pounds have been saved for taxpayers.
With more asylum hotels set to close, the government is instead increasing the use of larger, basic accommodation including former military sites.
In recent weeks, the Home Office announced discussions have begun to explore the use of three new former MOD sites to house asylum seekers.
Planning permission is currently being sought at MOD Bicester and MOD Barnham, while discussions are underway for MOD Linton-on-Ouse. Together, these new sites could eventually house around 3,750 asylum seekers.
The latest 13 hotel closures are expected to save taxpayers £51million, bringing the total expected savings from this year's closures to £224million. This is on top of an almost £1billion reduction in asylum accommodation costs since the 2024 general election.
This progress stands in stark contrast to the position inherited and the peak of 2023 when 400 asylum hotels were in use at a staggering cost of £9million a day.
Driving these closures is the Home Secretary's programme of major reforms to fix an asylum system left under extraordinary pressure.
Since July 2024, record numbers of asylum decisions have been made, nearly 70,000 migrants have been removed, and landmark legislation will be introduced through the Immigration and Asylum Bill to more swiftly remove those who are here illegally.
From today, a new 24-week target for deciding asylum and immigration appeals will come into force for those in accommodation and foreign national offenders, slashing the current average wait of 67 weeks.
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The measure will cut delays, speed up case resolution and removals, and move people through the system faster, reducing the time spent in taxpayer-funded accommodation and driving down costs for the taxpayer.
On the closing of The Metropole as an asylum hotel, Kate Shane MBE, Managing Director of Blackpool Tourism Ltd, said: “The Metropole Hotel occupies a prominent position on Blackpool’s iconic seafront and has been an important part of the town’s landscape for generations.
“As one of our most recognisable buildings, it holds a special place in Blackpool’s heritage, and we would welcome any opportunity to see it restored to its former glory so that it can once again play a significant role in our visitor economy.
“The news that the hotel has closed in its current form marks the beginning of a new chapter. We look forward to working with the owners and stakeholders to help ensure its future use complements the high-quality accommodation, attractions and experiences that we have here in Blackpool.”
What owners of the Grand Metropole Britannia says
Answering calls to restore The Metropole to it’s former glory a spokesman for owners Britannia Hotels said: “We welcome constructive conversation regarding the future of The Metropole Hotel in Blackpool and fully understand the local interest in restoring this iconic hotel as a community asset.
“We are currently reviewing our options while giving due consideration to local perspectives, and we will share further updates with the community once a plan has been finalised.”
Other hotels included in today's announcement
Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Loughborough
Chimney House Hotel, Sandbach
Britannia Ashley Hotel, Hale
Gold Thorn Hotel, Wolverhampton
Grand Metropole Hotel, Blackpool
Nottingham Hotel, Nottingham
Grosvenor Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Staycity Apartments Deptford Bridge, Lewisham
Needham House, Hitchin
Holiday Inn Bridgwater
Holiday Inn Express Dunstable
Dubrovnik Hotel, Bradford
Best Western Brook Hotel, Norwich