Positive developments as the government announces the end of asylum accommodation in Hellesdon hotel

I welcome the decision by the Home Office to terminate the contract with a local hotel in Hellesdon, which has been used as temporary asylum accommodation since September 2022. 

 

I have been a vocal critic of the use of such hotels for housing asylum seekers, expressing concerns about its impact on the local economy and the strain it placed on already-stretched local services. Terminating the contract is welcome news and will happen before the end of April.

 

Local residents have been concerned by the use of this hotel in north Norwich to house asylum seekers. We are a welcoming city to people in their hour of need, but this policy is not fair on anyone, and I've constantly questioned the government over this.

 

In a letter that I received this week, Minister for Migration and the Border, Tom Pursglove, stated: "The Home Office has always been clear that the use of hotels was a short-term measure to ensure that we meet our statutory obligation to accommodate asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute during a period of unprecedented numbers of small boat arrivals."

 

The return of these hotels is sensible for our local economy. That means simple things like visitors enjoying Norwich and spending money here and local people booking weddings again, with local businesses and workers benefiting throughout the supply chain. Constituents will also welcome less strain on local services.