Council takes first steps towards planning action over asylum hotels
01 September 2025
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is today issuing Planning Contravention Notices to the owners of the three hotels in its area being used by the Home Office for asylum accommodation.
The Council, in its role as the local planning authority, believes a breach of planning control may have occurred at the hotels and is in the process of serving the notices as the first formal step in finding out more information before deciding whether enforcement action is required.
The hotel owners have 21 days to respond to the notice and failure to do is an offence under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Action is already under way by WNC to take legal and planning steps over asylum hotels in its area in the light of Epping Forest District Council’s current court case, which will conclude with a full injunction hearing in October. Alongside actively collating the evidence it needs for a robust legal case, as part of its action WNC is also ensuring it follows the full process for using formal planning enforcement powers.
“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.Councillor Mark Arnull, Leader of West Northamptonshire Council
“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 in West Northants.
“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.”