The Peripheralisation of Asylum Accommodation Project (PAAP) investigates how recent changes in asylum accommodation are reshaping experiences of displacement, governance arrangements, and local communities across England. To explore these developments, the project focuses on four case studies that examine two interconnected policy trends: the closure of asylum hotels and the continued use of large-scale accommodation sites.
Case Study 1: Hotel Closures in Birmingham and the West Midlands – A reduction of hotel numbers, in line with wider national trends
The West Midlands has historically hosted one of the largest populations of people seeking asylum accommodated in hotels outside London. At the peak of hotel use in 2023, more than 7,000 people were living in contingency hotel accommodation across the region, representing around half of all asylum seekers receiving accommodation support locally.
As the government moves towards ending the use of asylum hotels, the West Midlands has experienced a significant reduction in hotel accommodation. While several hotels remain in use, the number of people housed in contingency accommodation has fallen substantially, amounting to slightly less than 2,000 in the summer 2026 (around 20% of supported asylum seekers relocated in the region). The situation in the West Midlands aligns with the UK trend, as in the UK asylum hotels have been halved, from 44% in 2023 to 22% in 2026.
This case study examines how hotel closures are being implemented across the region and how these changes affect people seeking asylum, local authorities, charities, community organisations, and residents.
Case Study 2: Hotel Closures in London – An exception to wider national trends, as rates of hotel use remain stable
London hosts the largest number of asylum seekers accommodated in hotels in the UK and, in contrast with the West Mildlands, remains an important exception to wider national trends. While hotel use has declined significantly across the country, London continues to accommodate a high proportion of asylum seekers in hotels, with rates remaining relatively stable in recent years (from 60% in 2023 to 58% in 2026).
This case study explores how hotel closure policies are unfolding in a city where reliance on contingency accommodation remains particularly high. By comparing London with the West Midlands, the project examines how local contexts shape the implementation and consequences of national asylum accommodation policies.
Case Study 3: Wethersfield, Essex – The protracted duration of one of the first large-scale asylum accommodation sites
Wethersfield is one of the most significant large-scale asylum accommodation sites currently operating in England. Located on a former Ministry of Defence site in Essex, it opened in 2023 and has become a key example of the government’s use of large accommodation centres for single adult men seeking asylum.
The site has capacity to accommodate more than 1,200 residents, with plans to further increase this number to around 1,700. Although stays are often intended to be relatively short (around 90 days), some residents remain for extended periods (up to 9 months)
This case study explores the governance and everyday operation of Wethersfield, focusing in particular on its protracted duration, as recent announcements suggest the site may remain operational beyond its currently planned closure date.
Case Study 4: Crowborough, East Sussex – The opening of a new large-scale asylum accommodation site
Crowborough is the newest large-scale asylum accommodation site included in the project. Located in East Sussex and opened in January 2026, the site represents the latest phase in the government’s use of former military facilities to accommodate people seeking asylum.
Designed to house up to 540 single adult men, Crowborough provides an opportunity to study a site in its early stages of operation and still with an unclear timeframe (in summer 2026, the news had reported that it could stay open until 2030). The location has attracted considerable public attention and has been the focus of local debate and protest, making it an important setting for understanding contemporary discussions around asylum accommodation.