Council secures interim injunction stopping hotel from being used to house asylum seekers

The High Court has issued an interim injunction to pre-emptively stop a hotel from being used to house asylum seekers, following an application made by Great Yarmouth Borough Council.

Last month, the local authority raised concerns that the Home Office had placed asylum seekers at a Great Yarmouth hotel without planning permission being sought beforehand.

The council has since secured an interim injunction preventing the owner and the company that oversees the scheme on behalf of the Government – Serco Group – from using a second hotel as a 'hostel'.

The interim injunction was granted on 16 September, which was then extended at a second hearing on 23 September to run until the end of November, when a full hearing will take place.

The court order prevents the use of the second hotel as a hostel for accommodating or facilitating the accommodation of asylum seekers or other persons.

Council leader Carl Smith said: "Great Yarmouth has a proud history of welcoming and supporting people from all over the world. 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 that local residents and businesses all play by the same rules and are protected from unauthorised and inappropriate use of local properties."

Referring to the hotel that is currently being used to house asylum seekers, the council said early last month that it held "serious concerns" about the hotel's suitability.

Since then, the council has served a planning contravention notice on the hotel, having earlier served a temporary stop notice.

Serco Group declined to comment.

The Home Office has been approached for comment.

The council was represented by Richard Wald KC of 39 Essex Chambers, who appeared before Mr Justice Cotter in the High Court.

Adam Carey