News: Rotherham asylum seeker hotel for sale on Rightmove

A hotel in Rotherham that was used to accommodate asylum seekers has been put up for sale for £4m.

The Home Office has used hotels as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers as a short-term measure as the number of people entering the UK illegally or claiming asylum hit record levels. The previous government had plans to move people to parts of the UK’s asylum estate, including the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Rothbiz reported in 2023 that the former Rother Valley MP, Alexander Stafford had stated that the use of the Ibis at Bramley for asylum seekers was to end.

Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, is now advertising the Ibis as being for sale.

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The listing states: "This purpose-built hotel has 86 en-suite bedrooms spread over four floors. On the ground floor there is an open plan multi-functional space, which includes the reception area and a combined dining area for breakfast and dinner with a bar, featuring a pool table and a large screen TV (capacity approximately 50). There are also four well-equipped meeting rooms with a capacity of six up to 20 guests."

With a guide price of £4m, the particulars explain that the hotel is currently let to Accor UK Economy Hotels Limited for a term of 25 years from August 2000 with less than a year remaining. The current passing rent is £364,370 per annum.

Across the borough, the Home Office has confirmed this week that it will be terminating its asylum accommodation contract for the Holiday Inn Express at Manvers and will not be using the hotel for this purpose going forward.

Wentworth and Dearne MP, John Healey has previously raised the issue over the use of the hotel which he said was "utterly unsuited as accomodation for 130 asylum seekers."

Writing to Mr Healey this week, Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP, Minister for Border Security & Asylum, said: "We have carefully considered the representations and views from a range of stakeholders, and I am pleased to inform you that the Home Office will be terminating the contract with the Holiday Inn Express, Rotherham, and will not therefore be re-occupying the hotel."

Images: Chrstie & Co

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News: Latest on Rotherham hotels used for asylum seekers

The Government has announced that more than 50 hotels accommodating asylum seekers will be exited in the coming months.

The first 50 hotels across the UK will stop housing asylum seekers by the end of January the Immigration Minister has confirmed.

The Home Office has already notified local authorities, MPs and the accommodation providers, informing them that the first 50 hotels temporarily accommodating asylum seekers will be exited as part of the move to return hotels to their proper use by communities.

Rother Valley MP, Alexander Stafford stated that the use of the Ibis at Bramley for asylum seekers is to end.

The government said that initial efforts will focus on hotels that can be exited quickly. This announcement will help to relieve pressures on local services in the areas where exits are taking place, and provide a boost to the local economy.

These hotels will be gradually handed back to hoteliers by the end of January 2024, with the first of these expected to be exited in the coming days.

Asylum seekers currently accommodated in these hotels will be moving to other parts of the UK’s asylum estate, including the Bibby Stockholm barge.

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Wentworth and Dearne MP, John Healey has raised the issue over the use of the Holiday Inn at Manvers which he said is "utterly unsuited as accomodation for 130 asylum seekers."

Speaking after the latest announcement, Healey said: "Our Manvers hotel has been used by the Home Office as an asylum hotel for over 18 months now, despite repeated objections from Rotherham Council, local residents and me as their local MP.

"The hotel and the Manvers area are totally unsuited to house asylum seekers and I wrote again last month to the Home Secretary asking for clarification on whether or not the contract would be extended beyond October 2023. As I have still not had a reply, I am writing today to ask you to release our Manvers hotel in line with the previous commitments I’ve been given by Ministers that its use as an asylum hotel would be a on a “temporary basis”.

"I am also set to meet with the owners of the hotel next week to make clear to them that I remain determined to see the hotel back open operating as a hotel."

Images: Google Maps

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