By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
Complaints have been lodged with the council’s planning enforcement team over the use of Highfield House Hotel in Portswood to house asylum seekers.
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The multiple submissions received by Southampton City Council over the hotel include one from Reform UK’s Southampton branch.
This comes after Epping Forest District Council secured a temporary injunction earlier this week to stop The Bell Hotel in Epping from being used to accommodate asylum seekers.
Representatives from Reform UK Southampton said there is no record of any planning application to authorise the “current long-term residential use” of the hotel in Highfield Lane.
The city council said its planning enforcement team is “carefully considering” submissions received over the current use of the site.
Protests and counter-protests again on Friday (Aug 22) outside Highfield House Hotel in Portswood
In their formal complaint, Reform UK argue there has been a material change of use from hotel to hostel-style accommodation without planning consent.
The branch has asked the city council to confirm whether enforcement action or a retrospective application will be required.
Dr Alexander Culley, Reform UK Southampton spokesperson (left), said: “The people of Portswood and Southampton deserve clarity and fairness.
“Highfield House was approved and extended as a hotel, not as long-term asylum accommodation.
“Its current use appears unauthorised, has sparked community tensions and has placed additional burdens on local policing.
“The Epping decision proves that councils can act decisively, and Southampton must do the same.”
A Southampton City Council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have received a number of submissions to our planning enforcement team regarding the current use of Highfield House Hotel and we are carefully considering these alongside the recent judgment and the options available to us as a council.
“We recognise the challenges the government faces in managing the asylum process and will continue to work closely with the Home Office to support their ambition to close all asylum hotels by the end of this parliament, if not sooner, to ensure the best outcome for Southampton.”
• Protests and counter protests outside the hotel continued on Friday evening (Aug 22) with anti-immigration protests in the hotel car park on one side of Highfield Lane, and opposing groups including Stand Up to Racism on the other, divided by a significant police presence - and traffic. The hotel itself is now protected by Heras fencing. This follows a complaint by MP Satvir Kaur that protests had "crossed a line".
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