A group of independent councillors at Gloucester City Council have put forward a motion calling on the authority to explore whether planning regulations have been breached at the Ibis hotel in Gloucester and if legal action could be taken.
The hotel in Barnwood has been used by the Home Office to house asylum seekers for several years.
Alastair Chambers, Leader of the Community Independent Group said: “I have brought this motion forward because a High Court judge has already made it clear: hotels being converted into asylum accommodation without the proper planning application is unlawful.”
Planning regulations exist for a reason—they require consultation with residents, neighbours, and local businesses to ensure that developments are fair, transparent, and in the best interests of the community. In this case, none of those safeguards were followed. A hotel was changed into an asylum centre without consent, and without giving local people their rightful voice in the process.”
“The consequences of this go beyond legality. It has caused understandable distress and frustration in our community. As councillors, many of us hear these concerns daily. Personally, it is heartbreaking to walk the streets of Gloucester and meet British service veterans—men who once wore the uniform of our country—now sleeping rough, with nowhere permanent to go. Many are given only a few nights in temporary accommodation before being asked to leave, while asylum seekers remain in hotels for months at a time.”
“This is not about lacking compassion for those who seek refuge. If the accommodation were being used for families and children fleeing war and persecution, there would be far greater public understanding. Instead, we are told by security staff at the Ibis that the vast majority of residents are single men—over one hundred plus men, with a handful of women. That is not the picture most people expect when they hear the word “asylum.”
“History teaches us differently. In the Second World War, children were evacuated overseas for safety. In Ukraine’s ongoing conflict, it has been women and children who have fled, while men of fighting age have stayed behind. Yet here in Gloucester, the reality is reversed: we see hotels housing large numbers of men, and no children.”
“Raising these facts has, regrettably, led to accusations of prejudice. But facts are not racist—they are reality, and they need to be discussed honestly if we are to find fair and lawful solutions. My intention in bringing this motion is simple: to ensure that planning law is respected, that the Ibis returns to its lawful use as a hotel, and that Gloucester residents—especially our homeless and our veterans—are not left behind while unlawful arrangements continue.”
On Tuesday, Epping Council won a temporary High Court injunction to remove migrants from the Bell Hotel as the court sided with its claim that the use of the hotel broke planning laws.
Eighty Labour, Conservative and Reform councils are now reportedly considering legal challenges.
Latest figures show there are more than 32,000 asylum seekers currently in UK hotels – that’s an 8% rise since Labour came to office.
A spokesperson for Gloucester City Council said: “The council is not making any comment at the moment.”
Hotel brand owners Accor have been approached for comment.