William Eichler 02 September 2025

Council takes legal action against asylum seeker hotels

West Northamptonshire Council is taking legal action to force three hotels in the county to stop housing asylum seekers.

The council yesterday issued planning contravention notices to the owners of the hotels, which are being used by the Home Office for asylum accommodation.

The hotel owners have 21 days to respond to the notice and failure to do so is an offence under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

The move follows last week's successful appeal against Epping Forest DC's temporary injunction banning the use of the Bell Hotel in Epping for asylum accommodation.

A number of councils have expressed their intention to take legal action against the use of hotels to house asylum seekers.

However, Victoria Searle from law firm Browne Jacobson told The MJ (£) they ‘should exercise caution and consider the wider implications’.

#Immigration #asylum #Temporary accommodation

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