Thetford unrest sparks HMO crackdown as Home Office plots to quadruple asylum housing - Edp24

Breckland Council's Conservative cabinet voted unanimously to force applications for small houses in multiple occupations to go through the planning process.

It comes after this newspaper revealed the Home Office is seeking to quadruple the number of asylum seekers housed in HMOs across the district, from 56 beds to around 240.

Police arresting a man in Thetford during the disorder last month. More than 20 arrests have been made in connection to the protests (Image: SWNS)

The new powers will bring an end to current rules which allow a family home to be converted into an HMO for up to six people without an application.

The decision arrives amid heightened tension over the use of HMOs across Breckland's five market towns.

In Thetford, the district's largest town, police were forced to evacuate asylum seekers from homes last month during three nights of protests that made headlines across the country.

Crowds had targeted properties believed to be HMOs housing migrants, leaving several badly damaged.

Migrants arriving at an HMO in Watton, which led to concern in the town (Image: Supplied)

Frustrations also ran high in Watton earlier in the summer, when the arrival of eight migrants sparked threats of protest in the town.

In a third town, Dereham, there have been long-standing concerns over an HMO hotel in the town centre, which locals say has contributed to crime in the area.

There are also ongoing fears over Home Office plans to house 1,250 asylum seekers at RAF Barnham, a mile over the district’s border in Suffolk.

An aerial view of RAF Barnham (Image: Mike Page)

Under the crackdown, known as an Article 4 direction, permission will be needed to convert a family home into a HMO.

Sarah Suggitt, Breckland’s member for housing, said: "The disturbances we have seen in both Thetford and Watton and further concerns reported in Dereham have left our communities looking for strong leadership and I feel we should be using all levers at our disposal."

The council has previously been vocal about the manner the Home Office and its contractor Serco, are pursuing HMOs within the district.

Earlier this year, the EDP revealed that the Home Office had overruled Breckland in three of the five cases where it formally objected to properties being used for asylum housing.

Across Norfolk, district councils objected to 17 proposed properties, and were overruled in 12 of them.

Under the current system, Serco identifies potential properties and consults the relevant council.

If the council objects, Serco can refer the case to the Home Office, which can overrule it.

Sam Chapman-Allen, leader of Breckland Council (Image: Breckland Council)

Sam Chapman-Allen, Breckland’s leader, has previously said he “does not believe the current system is functioning”.

Breckland’s decision on Tuesday will cost up to £25,000 to implement and will need to be "legally robust", according to cabinet documents.

Breckland Council has been approached for comment.