Reform Complaint Against Fownes Hotel Found To Have No Basis In Planning Law

A lengthy planning enforcement investigation into the Fownes Hotel has concluded that there has been no breach of planning control. The investigation followed complaints and campaigning by Reform UK, which claimed the use of the hotel for asylum accommodation required planning permission.

After a site visit, formal legal notices, consultation with external agencies, and advice from an independent planning barrister, officers found:

• The building is still operating as a hotel.
• There have been no significant physical changes to the building.
• Rooms remain hotel-style bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms.
• Meals, cleaning and laundry services continue to be provided.
• There has been no significant increase in anti-social behaviour.
• There has been no significant impact on the local area.
• There has been no material change of use requiring planning permission.

The council has therefore closed the enforcement case.

Cllr Jessie Jagger said: "This investigation has thoroughly examined the allegations and found no breach of planning law.

Residents are entitled to their own views on immigration and asylum policy, but they also deserve honest information. Unfortunately, Reform sought to present this as a straightforward planning issue when the evidence simply did not support that claim.

The investigation found no planning breach, no significant increase in anti-social behaviour, and no significant impact on the local area. Yet considerable officer time and public resources were spent investigating claims that ultimately led nowhere.

Across the country Reform has built its politics around creating division and hostility towards asylum seekers. This complaint appears to have been another attempt to import those tactics into Worcester and create fear around a situation that the evidence does not support.

Worcester is best served when political debate is based on facts, evidence and respect for our community, not by attempts to inflame tensions for political gain."