Statement regarding the Park Hotel in Diss
The Home Office has written to South Norfolk Council to inform us that it intends to proceed with its plans to remove families from the Park Hotel in Diss and replace them with single adult asylum seekers.
The Council has previously made its position clear that it will not accept this change of use for the hotel, and the owner has also stated that he is willing to close the hotel if the Home Office continues with its plans.
Today, the Council has agreed to issue a planning enforcement notice that will require the hotel owner to submit a planning application to regularise the change of use of the building from an hotel to asylum accommodation. When dealing with the planning application the council will have the ability, if required, to specify that the use of the hotel is limited to accommodating families seeking asylum only.
If while the enforcement notice is in place the Home Office continues with its plans to replace the families, the Council will serve a Temporary Stop Notice on the hotel owner. A temporary stop notice is a legal notice that can be served by a local planning authority. The purpose of the notice is to bring about the immediate cessation of any action that is believed to violate planning regulations.
Leader of South Norfolk Council, Daniel Elmer said:
We have been clear from the start that we will not accept a change from accommodating families to single asylum seekers. Two years ago the Home Office informed us that the Park Hotel would be used to house families and we believe that Home Office should stick to that position.
We are continuing to work closely with the police and our partners and If the Home office continues with its plan then we will use all options open to us, including planning powers to support both the families living in the hotel and the local community.
Published: 7 August 2025