High Court grants final injunction order blocking accommodation of asylum seekers in tourist district
A High Court judge has issued a final injunction order preventing Home Office contractors from seeking to use any hotels to house asylum seekers within a key tourist district in Great Yarmouth.
Great Yarmouth Borough Council argued that using the hotels for asylum seekers would undermine the council's local plan – specifically a policy named GY6 – which pledges to encourage tourism in the area.
It also contended that the usage of hotels would amount to an unauthorised change and would require planning permission.
Great Yarmouth first secured an interim injunction covering its GY6 planning policy area in November of last year after hearing of Home Office plans to place asylum seekers in a local hotel.
Commenting on the GY6 policy at last week's hearing, Mr Justice Holgate said: "GY6 is a highly specific, protective policy directed to a large and highly important sector of the borough's economy."
As part of its argument, the council brought the judge's attention to an enforcement notice it had served for a similar breach 17 years earlier.
A spokesperson for Great Yarmouth Borough Council said: "Our town has a long and proud history of welcoming and supporting people from all over the world. We continue to help support asylum seekers placed in the town who have no control over where they are accommodated.
"However, we have a responsibility 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."
They added: "Tourism, and the economic benefits it affords the town, are crucial and it was essential we took this action to protect the sector and those it supports.
"The council argued its case on planning grounds and this verdict demonstrates the importance of having an up-to date-plan and a very clear planning policy to support our actions."
The injunction prevents Serco, Amayo Properties Ltd and H & H North Ltd - who are contracted by the Home Office - from booking hotels in the GY6 area for asylum seekers. Holgate J also ordered the firms to pay costs of between £12,000 and £14,000 each.
The news comes as the High Court rejected an interim injunction application from West Lindsey District Council intended to block the Home Office from moving asylum seekers onto a local airfield.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under incredible strain.
The spokesperson added: “We have been clear that the use of hotels to house asylum seekers is unacceptable – there are currently more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £6 million a day.
“We have to use alternative accommodation options, as our European neighbours are doing – including the use of barges and ferries to save the British taxpayer money.”
Adam Carey
