Local politicians formally object to Flintshire hotel asylum seeker plan

Two local politicians have lodged their objection to plans that would see hundreds of people seeking asylum housed at a Flintshire hotel.

Jack Sargeant MS and Mark Tami MP have written to Flintshire Council, opposing plans to house 400 asylum seekers at Northop Hall Hotel.

Plans to convert the 37-bedroom hotel into a hostel for 400 asylum seekers have now been submitted to Flintshire County Council.

The plans, submitted by the property owner, Payman Holdings 3 Ltd, outline the proposed conversion of the hotel.

The proposal is to accommodate 150 individuals within the existing building and add modular units in the car park to house an additional 250 people, all of whom will be single adult males.

This application represents the next step in plans to convert the hotel into housing for asylum seekers for a period of up to seven years.

If approved, this development would result in a significant population increase of nearly 25% for Northop Hall, which currently has a population of just over 1,800.

Sargeant and Tami have joined a large group of local residents to challenge the plans, citing significant socio-economic and infrastructural concerns.

They argue that Northop Hall lacks the infrastructure and amenities necessary to support such an increase. They cite the village’s limited public transport, a small convenience store, and a single pub as examples of inadequate resources. They also highlight the absence of well-lit and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

In their formal objection, Sargeant and Tami drew attention to the potential economic impact. They stated, “Flintshire has a lack of hotel accommodation, and we believe this could have a significant impact on future economic development.”

The Northop Hall Hotel, last used as a hotel, was planned to be refurbished and reopened in late 2022 as a wedding and events venue and a community hub.

The politicians stressed that the proposed site remains viable as a hotel, arguing that the proposed conversion would violate the Local Development Plan’s protection of employment land.

Sargeant and Tami also raised concerns about the potential future residents’ access to necessary services, given the village’s size and limited transport links.

They highlighted the lack of specific services for asylum seekers and access to general services such as GPs, dentists, and other wellbeing support.

The objection letter concluded by stressing that hotel accommodation is designed for short stays, not long-term accommodation, and urged the council to reject the planning application.

Objection letter in full: 

The public can view and comment on the plans here: https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/flintshire/application-details/67258.

You will need to sign up to the council’s planning portal to submit any comments.