East Riding of Yorkshire: decision on asylum seeker hotel injunction application delayed
It's expected a decision will not be made until later this week
A decision on whether a North Ferriby hotel can be used to house asylum seekers will not be made until later this week.
A High Court hearing has been adjourned after Robin Green, acting for East Riding Council, told the court housing them in the Humber View Hotel would need planning permission, be financially damaging and leave them far from services.
The defence told the court evidence of economic harm to the area or hotel was slim and granting an injunction would deprive destitute people of somewhere to stay.
Mr Justice Holgate, presiding, said: “There are matters that the court needs to reflect upon, it would not be right to give a judgement.”
He adjourned it ahead of his ruling which is due later this week.
He told the court the ruling would hinge on whether the council could show it urgently needed an injunction rather than relying on normal planning enforcement.
Mr Justice Holgate added it also depended on whether housing asylum seekers in the hotel, in Ferriby High Road, would amount to a material change of use.
East Riding Council is seeking to extend its temporary injunction by up to six weeks ahead of a hearing to make it permanent.
It comes as the hearing also heard a case brought by Ipswich Borough Council for a hotel there earmarked for similar plans which was also adjourned.
The court heard the Home Office, through Serco, was looking to use the hotel for at least 12 months.
It would house single adult males in 77 rooms currently available in the 95-bedroom hotel.
Today’s (Tuesday, November 8) hearing came after the High Court dismissed a bid to stop a hotel in Stoke from being to house asylum seekers, also under planning laws.
But the court separately ruled an interim injunction could be granted to Great Yarmouth Borough Council to stop a hotel from being used there.
The High Court hearing continues.