Property owner Bilal Babar said he has been left ‘upset and stressed’ after his property was targeted following the spread of rumours that it could be used to house asylum seekers, something he said is ‘not an option’Andrew Forgrave Countryside and tourism editor and Ellie Gosley
12:06, 23 Jan 2026
Plans have been put forward to convert former care home Oak Alyn Hall into a 28-bed HMO(Image: )
The upset owner of a former care home has angrily dismissed rumours that the property is set to house asylum seekers, saying that was never his intention. Tensions have risen in the Gwersyllt area of Wrexham after plans were submitted to turn Oak Alyn Hall, Sydallt, into a 28-room house of multiple occupancy (HMO).
Bilal Babar, a Manchester-based immigration lawyer and the property’s owner, reported that the building had been vandalised and targeted in an “arson attack” this week. He said he has been left “upset and stressed” and blamed misinformation which he said was being spread online.
Mr Babar said he submitted his HMO proposal with the intention that it would “deliver much-needed affordable accommodation” for the Wrexham region and said he had never mentioned anything about asylum seekers. However, online backlash has grown due to rumours that the building would be used accommodate asylum seekers.
After rumours began gathering pace online by Thursday afternoon, at which time an online petition arguing that Sydallt was “not a suitable location” had garnered nearly 2,900 signatures. Mr Babar was appalled. “It is very disappointing to learn that so many lies are spread around the plans for the property,” he said. “This is absolutely shocking and (came) out of the blue.”
Charred remains where a window was smashed during an ‘arson attack’ at Oak Alyn Hall(Image: Bilal Babar)
He said he was astonished to see a statement from Wrexham Council earlier this week which outlined that an application to house asylum seekers at his property had been submitted to the Home Office, reports North Wales Live. He denies that is the case.
Documents show the application was lodged in October 2025 by Ready Homes, a subsidiary of Clearsprings – one of three firms holding decade-long contracts with the Home Office to provide accommodation services for asylum seekers.
According to that application the firm wants to convert Oak Alyn Hall into a HMO accommodating 20 single adults. Wrexham Council’s objections were subsequently rejected by the Home Office’s asylum adjudication panel.
Mr Babar said he tried to sell or lease Oak Alyn Hall last year but all deals fell through. Among those interested was Ready Homes. A lease for a HMO was mooted but agreement was never reached, Mr Babar said. Using the property for asylum accommodation was never an option, he added.
He said: “There was never any offer to purchase and there is nothing on the table now and will not be in the future,” he said. “I only recently discovered Ready Homes was the name for the Clearsprings website, and I will be getting in touch with them to find out how all this happened.
“It is so upsetting. A week ago, following a fire in another care home, police called me to inform me there is graffiti and my property might be targeted next. On Tuesday the police called me saying there was an arson attack and damage to the property. I had to cancel three or four appointments to visit– this is costing me money.”
Mr Babar was referring to a significant blaze that gutted Gwastad Hall, Cefn-y-Bedd, on January 14. Whilst the two former care homes sit less than 1km apart, police are understood not to be connecting the incidents. However a “patrol plan” was put in place at Oak Alyn Hall by North Wales Police.
Mr Babar continued: “I work hard in my day-to-day roles but then someone decides to damage my reputation and property without finding out the truth first. I am so disappointed with the way things are – the misinformation, rumours and hate spread around my HMO application.
“I appreciate the importance of transparency, so I would like to confirm I have not had any agreement with any party to date regarding the use of Oak Alyn Hall for asylum seeker accommodation. We wanted it to be our family home.”
Typically, asylum accommodation comes about when an investor purchases a property, carries out necessary modifications, obtains required licences and subsequently leases it to a Home Office contractor.
But Mr Babar said he purchased the property because he “liked it” and contemplated turning it into his family residence. He said: “However, as our centre of life is in Manchester, we have young kids and I have many work commitments, we decided it was not viable to move to Wrexham.”
He explored returning the building to its former use as a care home but abandoned the idea after consulting with the previous owners. His next proposal was a B&B with timber lodges. Whilst Wrexham Council approved that scheme, it was ultimately scrapped as the renovation and refurbishment expenses rendered it financially unviable, Mr Babar explained.
He also held discussions with the local authority regarding a potential transfer to its housing department for affordable accommodation. “But I faced a brick wall,” he said. “There was also a local individual with whom I agreed a short-term lease with an option to purchase. He wasted a lot of my time and did not complete.
“After discussions with my architects we agreed there is much need and scope for accommodation in Wrexham as there is a university, football stadium and businesses. Hence we proceeded to apply for a HMO.
“I am very annoyed with this negative and unnecessary attention and misinformation regarding this property and jeopardising my investment. All I wanted was to make this property useful for the community and protect it from deterioration.”
A smoke-blackened wall at Oak Alyn Hall(Image: Bilal Babar)
On November 20 Wrexham Council was contacted by Clearsprings Ready Homes confirming its decision to proceed with the property. When approached about Oak Alyn Hall the company referred all inquiries to the Home Office.
The Home Office stated that accommodation providers, rather than the Home Office, take the lead on negotiations and discussions with landlords. The Westminster department said it was working to fulfil pledges to reduce asylum accommodation costs and eliminate the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament.
A spokesperson said: “We are furious at the level of illegal migrants and asylum hotels. This government will close every asylum hotel. Work is well under way to move asylum seekers into more suitable accommodation such as military bases, to ease pressure on communities across the country. We are working closely with local authorities, property partners and across government so that we can accelerate delivery.”
In a statement council leader Cllr Mark Pritchard said there was no reference to asylum accommodation in Mr Babar’s planning application. But this isn’t a planning requirement anyway, he added. After being approached for clarification, the local authority said it wouldn’t be adding to Cllr Prichard’s statement.
North Wales Police confirmed that damage was found at Oak Alyn Hall on Tuesday, January 20. Officers noted a smoke-blackened wall during their routine patrol of the site.
A spokesperson said: “During those patrols smoke damage was reported from inside the building as well as a broken window. Investigations have been carried out at the scene and enquiries into the incident are ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact officers on 101, or via the force’s website, using reference number 26000052108.”
Mr Babar said he now aims to work constructively with the council and the local community. He added: “I welcome any questions relating directly to the planning application. My view is that any decisions should be made based on planning policy and the merits of the proposal itself rather than on speculation or unverified information.”
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