Norwich City Council to sell freehold of hotel accommodating migrants

Norwich City Council has agreed to sell the freehold of a hotel being used as temporary accommodation for migrants.

The Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe is a 82-bedroom Best Western Hotel that has been housing migrants since it closed to the public in September.

It is understood the Home Office chose two properties in Norwich, including the Brook Hotel, to offer temporary accommodation.

Best Western approached the council to acquire the freehold interest of the site through a special purchaser agreement.

The development of the hotel in 1988 coincided with the granting of a 125-year lease, 90 years of which remain.

During a cabinet meeting held last week, the Council unanimously agreed to "approve the disposal of the assets outlined in this report" as the property was generating "no income and has no income potential in the short term".

Earlier this month, the Home Office announced its bid to "slash" the number of hotels being used for housing by asylum seekers.