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More than a dozen asylum hotels closed and returned to public use
The move is part of a reform drive that has removed nearly 70,000 migrants since July 2024 and could save taxpayers £51 million.
On Tuesday, the Home Office announced 13 asylum hotels, including Bradford's Dubrovnik Hotel on Oak Avenue in Manningham, have closed and been handed back to communities across England.
The closures mark a dramatic shift from 2023, when 400 asylum hotels cost £9 million daily; since July 2024, record asylum decisions and nearly 70,000 removals have accelerated the government's reform programme.
Taxpayers will save £51 million from the latest 13 closures, bringing 2024 total savings to £224 million, with fewer than 160 asylum hotels remaining in use nationwide after 44 withdrawals this year.
Labour MP for Bradford West Naz Shah welcomed the Dubrovnik's return, saying it can "once again be enjoyed by the local community and visitors alike," supporting local jobs and Bradford's hospitality sector.
Three former military sites—MOD Bicester, MOD Barnham, and MOD Linton-on-Ouse—could eventually house around 3,750 asylum seekers, while a new 24-week appeal target takes effect today to reduce the current 67-week average wait.