Broxbourne Borough Council welcomes end of three-year arrangement at Cheshunt site
Broxbourne Borough Council has confirmed that the Delta Marriott Hotel in Cheshunt is no longer being used to accommodate asylum seekers, bringing to an end an arrangement that had been in place since late 2022.
The local authority said it had received confirmation that all asylum seekers had now left the hotel, marking the conclusion of a long-running issue that prompted sustained opposition from the Council and concern among local residents.
The hotel, located in Cheshunt, had been used by the Government as temporary asylum accommodation during a period of increased pressure on the UK asylum system. However, Broxbourne Borough Council consistently argued that the site should return to its original use as a hotel and community asset.
Council maintained opposition since 2022
The Council said it had opposed the use of the Delta Marriott Hotel for asylum accommodation from the outset, citing concerns over the loss of a valued local facility, the impact on residents and additional strain on public services in the borough.
Over the past three years, the authority said it had continued to lobby Government departments and Ministers to end the arrangement. The Council also sought legal advice and prepared enforcement action relating to what it described as an unauthorised change of use at the site.
The issue became a significant local political matter, with residents expressing concerns over the long-term closure of the hotel for its traditional hospitality function and the wider effect on the surrounding area.
Broxbourne Borough Council stated that restoring the hotel to normal operations would provide economic benefits to the borough, including renewed employment opportunities and increased support for local businesses.
Council leader welcomes confirmation
Councillor Corina Gander, Leader of Broxbourne Borough Council, welcomed the development and said the authority had worked persistently to ensure local concerns were raised at the highest levels.
“I welcome the confirmation that the Delta Marriott Hotel is no longer being used to accommodate asylum seekers.
The Council has consistently maintained that the hotel should return to its intended use and has worked tirelessly to ensure residents’ concerns were heard at every level of Government.
I very much hope that a lawful hotel use will resume in the near future as this would create local jobs and be generally beneficial to the local economy.
I would like to thank local residents for their patience throughout this period. Bringing this arrangement to an end has remained a priority for myself and for the Council and I am pleased that this matter has now been resolved.”
Focus turns to future use of the site
With the arrangement now concluded, attention is expected to shift towards the future operation of the hotel and whether it will return to full commercial hospitality use.
The Council indicated that reopening the site as a functioning hotel would support economic activity in the borough and restore a facility previously used by visitors, businesses and local organisations.
The Government has increasingly faced pressure from councils across the UK over the use of hotels for asylum accommodation, particularly where long-term arrangements have affected local infrastructure and services. Local authorities have frequently called for greater consultation and clearer exit strategies where hotels have been repurposed.
Broxbourne Borough Council said ending the use of the Delta Marriott Hotel for asylum accommodation had remained a priority throughout the past three years. The authority now hopes the site can quickly transition back to its intended purpose and once again contribute to the borough’s local economy and hospitality sector.
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