A second facility providing accommodation for asylum seekers in Bradford is expected to shut its doors, according to a local parliamentarian.
Labour representative Naz Shah, who serves the Bradford West constituency, has revealed that the Merchants House Hotel situated in the Little Germany area will cease functioning as housing for individuals awaiting asylum decisions.
The announcement was characterised as another advancement toward discontinuing the practice of housing asylum seekers in hotel facilities throughout the borough.
According to the Labour parliamentarian, the shutdown aligns with official strategies aimed at decreasing dependence on hotel-based lodging for asylum seekers and overhauling the broader immigration framework.
The closure follows an earlier announcement made in August regarding the Dubrovnik Hotel located in Manningham, which also ceased operating as asylum accommodation.
Government representatives indicated at the time that the property could potentially contribute to the local economy once returned to alternative community purposes.
However, the owner of that establishment informed the Telegraph & Argus that the venue remains non-operational and that no determination has been reached regarding its eventual function.
Whether the three-star establishment will resume operations as a hotel consequently remains uncertain.
Government officials have maintained that utilisation of hotels for asylum seeker housing imposes considerable costs on the public purse.
Department representatives have stated that measures are underway to accelerate the processing of asylum applications while simultaneously expanding access to alternative housing arrangements.
The proposed closure of Merchants House Hotel would result in a further decrease in the number of establishments currently operating as asylum accommodation within Bradford.
The intended purpose for the building following the cessation of its current use has not yet been established.