Brighton Council Leader Writes to Home Office Over Asylum Hotel Closure
Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council. Image: @bellasankey on Instagram
Brighton and Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey wrote to the Home Office on 17 September 2026, calling for urgent reassurance over the imminent dispersal of asylum-seeking women and families from a hotel in the city. The letter, sent to Anna Turley, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, sets out eight specific demands and proposes a Brighton pilot of a Ukraine-style community sponsorship scheme for asylum seekers.
The hotel, which has housed women and families for a significant period, is closing as part of the government's national programme to end the use of contingency hotels for asylum seekers. Councillor Sankey supports that policy but says the way families are being moved out is causing serious harm.
Why Bella Sankey is Concerned
Councillor Sankey said: "I am increasingly concerned about the impact that current arrangements are having on women and families living in Brighton and Hove, many of whom have spent considerable time in our city and have developed strong connections to local schools, health services, support organisations and community networks."
"There is a significant level of public concern about the impact of relocations on people who have become valued members of our communities and it is only right that as a council we press the Home Office for more information and stress the need for proper support to be arranged before any dispersals take place."
Councillor Bella Sankey, Leader, Brighton and Hove City Council
What the Council Says Is Going Wrong
Through regular multi-agency Contingency Assurance Meetings, bringing together the Home Office, accommodation providers, council services, health partners, Sussex Police and voluntary organisations, the same concerns are raised repeatedly. The letter sets them out plainly:
Residents given very little notice before a move
Residents not told in advance where they are being moved to
Significant disruption to children's education and support arrangements
Impact on people with physical and mental health needs who rely on local services
Considerable distress and anxiety caused by uncertainty over accommodation
Separation from community, faith and support networks central to people's wellbeing
Eight Things the Council Is Asking For
Councillor Sankey's letter sets out a specific list of requests to the Home Office:
Explore whether a Ukraine-style community sponsorship model can be adapted locally, allowing asylum seekers to remain close to established support networks while claims are processed
Increased efforts to find dispersal accommodation within Brighton and Hove and Sussex, so people can keep their schools, healthcare and support in place
A review of underused dispersal accommodation capacity across the city and wider Sussex area
Greater notice to be given wherever possible before residents are required to move
Residents to be told their destination and arrangements at the earliest opportunity
Improved communication with local partners so support needs can be planned and coordinated in advance
Greater recognition of established education, healthcare and support arrangements when decisions about placements are made
Clear arrangements to connect residents with support services in receiving areas before they are moved
The council also asks the Home Office to encourage accommodation providers to consider repurposing suitable properties, including Houses in Multiple Occupation, to create appropriate housing for women and families.
Brighton: A City of Sanctuary
Brighton and Hove has a long history of welcoming people seeking sanctuary. In June 2026, the city was awarded official Council of Sanctuary status, recognising years of work supporting refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. The award was received at Jubilee Library, which itself was made a Library of Sanctuary in 2019 and upgraded to a full Library Service of Sanctuary in 2024.
The city has participated in government programmes supporting people from Syria, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. The local City of Sanctuary group, Sanctuary on Sea, coordinates welcome and support across dozens of local organisations. We covered the Council of Sanctuary award in full when it was announced: Brighton and Hove Receives Council of Sanctuary Award.
How to Support Refugees in Brighton and Hove
If you want to help, there are several ways to get involved locally. The council's own How to Help Refugees page lists options from offering housing to volunteering. Key local organisations include:
Free legal advice, welfare support and practical help for asylum seekers and refugees in Brighton
Befriending for young asylum seekers and refugees in the city
Free informal English lessons and community support for asylum seekers and migrants
Brighton's City of Sanctuary group with a full directory of local refugee support services
The full directory of local refugee and migrant support organisations is available on the council's support directory.
The full text of Councillor Sankey's letter is published on the Brighton and Hove City Council website. The council says it remains committed to working constructively with the Home Office and its partners to ensure residents are treated with dignity, fairness and humanity throughout the process.
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