Council takes 'formal step' to asylum hotel action

West Northamptonshire Council leader said three hotels housing asylum seekers had a "case to answer"

A council said it had taken "the first formal step" towards possible enforcement action against asylum hotels in its area.

West Northamptonshire Council said it had issued planning contravention notices to the owners of three hotels being used by the Home Office as asylum seekers' accommodation.

The Reform UK-controlled council said it believed a breach of planning control may have occurred at the hotels, and had given the owners 21 days to respond. The Home Office has been approached for comment.

Last week a temporary injunction that blocked asylum seekers being housed at an Essex hotel was overturned at the Court of Appeal.

Lawyers for The Bell Hotel in Epping and the government challenged a High Court ruling that would have forced 138 asylum seekers to leave the site by 12 September.

West Northamptonshire Council leader Mark Arnull said: "By accommodating asylum seekers, we believe these hotels may have a case to answer for breaching planning control, and these notices are the first formal step in allowing us to investigate further.

"The recent Epping Court of Appeal hearing highlighted the importance of ensuring the full planning enforcement process is followed if councils are looking to take action against the use of hotels in their area as asylum accommodation, and that's what we're doing.

"With the Home Office's use of these hotels in our area placing an unsustainable strain on our local services, and with residents continuing to raise concerns, we will look at using whatever powers we have to address these issues."

The council added it was "collating the evidence it needs for a robust legal case".

It comes after the Northamptonshire unitary council announced it would discuss its stance on asylum hotels at an emergency council meeting later this month.