Epping High Court ruling sparks investigation by Stevenage Borough Council over two asylum seeker hotels in town

Stevenage’s Labour-run borough council is “actively investigating” alleged breaches of planning control relating to asylum seeker hotels in the town.

The move follows a High Court ruling on Tuesday (August 19) to grant a temporary injunction blocking asylum seekers from being housed in an Epping hotel.

Stevenage Borough Council says it is studying that judgment closely.

The High Court ruling was made after Epping Forest District Council sought to stop asylum seekers from being accommodated at The Bell Hotel.

The Essex council argued that use of the hotel for asylum seekers breached planning rules and that this had led to local harm.

In Stevenage, the Novotel near junction 7 of the A1(M) and the Ibis in the town centre are being used to accommodate a total of 322 asylum seekers.

That figure is the highest for any borough or district in Hertfordshire, but down slightly from March.

Two months ago, Stevenage Borough Council wrote to the Novotel’s owners warning they must stop using the hotel for asylum seekers or they may face planning enforcement action.

While the council did not provide an update on the specific situation with the Novotel, a spokesperson did tell the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The council takes breaches of planning control seriously and we’re actively investigating alleged breaches relating to the operation of hotels in Stevenage.

“We are studying the Epping and Somani Hotels judgment closely to determine the implications this has for our own investigations.

“It is important that the council gathers all the facts before reaching any conclusion about the appropriate course of action it takes; this work is continuing at pace.”

Planning officers believe the Novotel’s use for asylum seekers means it is effectively a hostel – and the building only has permission to operate as a hotel.

In June, the council told Fairview Hotels (Knebworth) Ltd, which owns the hotel, that it will issue a planning enforcement notice unless its use for asylum seekers ends.

The Home Office began to use the hotel for refugees in September 2022, when the previous Conservative Government was in charge.

Councils across the country are now pondering potential legal challenges to the use of hotels in their boroughs and districts.

In Hertfordshire, the leader of Conservative-run Broxbourne Borough Council, Cllr Corina Gander, said they would “consider all legal options” to stop the “inappropriate” use of the Delta Marriott hotel in Cheshunt for asylum seekers.