Title

PLANNING

Council obtains injunction to stop hotel housing asylum seekers

Great Yarmouth BC has obtained an injunction to stop a second hotel from being used as a hostel for asylum seekers.

Great Yarmouth BC has obtained an injunction to stop a second hotel from being used as a hostel for asylum seekers.

In July around 50 asylum seekers were placed in the town's Hotel Victoria as part of a Home Office scheme.

Whitehall officials had planned to use the town's Embassy Hotel as part of the same scheme but the council sought an injunction on the basis that using the hotel as a hostel would be an unauthorised change of use, requiring planning permission.

The court order prevents the use of the Embassy Hotel as a hostel for accommodating asylum seekers until the end of November, when a full hearing will take place.

Council leader Carl Smith said: ‘We will continue to help support the asylum seekers placed in the town and who have no control over where they are housed.

‘We do have a responsibility though to enforce planning laws and make sure local residents and businesses all play by the same rules and are protected from unauthorised and inappropriate use of local properties.'

PLANNING

Solving the housing crisis is key to social and environmental justice in London

By Zoë Garbett | 30 September 2026

With the Green Party conference set to take place on 2-4 October in Brighton, Zoë Garbett says housing pressures are intensifying across London, requiring st...

PLANNING

Downgrading councils who use illegal children's homes holds sector to 'unattainable standard'

By Ann McGauran | 29 September 2026

Ofsted proposals to downgrade councils that use unregistered placements would hold local authorities (LAs) to an ‘unattainable standard’, children’s care chi...

PLANNING

Devolution must reach the councils that deliver

By Cllr Jason Perry | 29 September 2026

Devolution must give local authorities the powers, funding and accountability to deliver, says executive mayor of Croydon Jason Perry.

PLANNING

The analogue landline switch-off: why councils must act now to protect their communities

By Professor Sultan Mahmud | 24 September 2026

With the UK’s PSTN switch-off approaching, councils need to identify hidden analogue dependencies, says director of health and communities, business, at BT B...

Popular articles by William Eichler

-->