A Reform-led council has begun legal action to shut down three migrant hotels after claiming the establishments breached rules around planning by housing asylum seekers.
West Northamptonshire Council said it is serving Planning Contravention Notices to the owners of the sites.
The council – which has been led by Reform UK since the elections in May – will then decide if enforcement action is needed.
The hotel owners are given a deadline of 21 days to respond to the notice.
Just days ago, the Home Office successfully overturned a temporary injunction granted to Epping Forest District Council ordering asylum seekers to be removed from The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex.
West Northamptonshire Council leader, Mark Arnull, said: “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.
“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.
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West Northamptonshire Council is set to take legal action to shut down three migrant hotels
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“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.”
Reform leader Nigel Farage previously indicated that all 12 local councils run by his party would consider legal challenges over the housing of asylum seekers in hotels.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has also urged councils to continue with their legal actions, despite the Home Office’s court victory, which she described as a “setback”, but added it was “not the end”.
Ms Badenoch said: “I say to Conservative councils seeking similar injunctions against asylum hotels – KEEP GOING!
Kemi Badenoch has urged Conservative councils to continue with legal actions over asylum hotels
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“Every case has different circumstances, and I know good Conservative councils will keep fighting for residents, so we will keep working with them every step of the way.”
She continued: “Only the Conservatives have a thorough plan to expand detention, remove every illegal arrival, and end the asylum hotel scourge once and for all. No ifs, no buts.”
A series of protests have been held across the country over the use of asylum hotels in recent days following the Court of Appeal’s ruling on The Bell.
This includes in Epping, where three people were arrested after protesters marched to the town’s council offices over the weekend.
Protesters in Epping marched to the town’s council offices over the weekend
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The Bell Hotel became the focal point of several protests and counter-protests in recent weeks after an asylum seeker housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl last month.
Ethiopian national Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, who arrived in Britain by small boat, has denied the offence.
The Government has pledged to close all asylum hotels by 2029.
