Ipswich council bosses hope opening Novotel will boost town

The town centre hotel will return to its original use at the beginning of next year, following the government’s recent announcement. 

Earlier this week, it was revealed that 50 hotels across the country will cease to be used to house asylum seekers and will go back to their original use, including Ipswich’s Novotel. 

Councillor Neil MacDonald, the Ipswich Borough Council leader, said: “We look forward to seeing Ipswich Novotel back in its proper use as a hotel, attracting visitors, and helping town centre businesses.” 

Councillor Neil MacDonald, the Ipswich Borough Council leader, Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Suffolk Refugee Support has commented on the news, saying that the asylum seekers from Ipswich’s hotel should be given "fair and fast hearings" while moving them into new locations. 

The Suffolk Refugee Support representative, Martin Simmonds, also added that the government's plan to remove people to Rwanda would cause fear among them and said that this idea is “unlawful”.  

He added: “We think it is wrong to directly hold the threat of something unlawful over vulnerable people.” 

Ipswich MP, Tom Hunt, who has been strongly against the use of the hotel for asylum seekers, said he is “very pleased” the Novotel is going back to being a hotel for the benefit of the town.   

The MP also shared his views about immigrants in Ipswich on the BBC Politics Live show. 

Tom Hunt MP appeared in Politics Live on Wednesday, October 25, BBC (Image: BBC)

A spokesperson for Novotel said that the hotel will return to its previous standard ahead of the reopening. 

 “Where temporary contracts between hotel owners and the government come to an end, we will work closely with the owners to assess each property, and do whatever is required to ensure they are fully returned to the standards required of our hotels before re-opening them to guests.  

“We look forward to these hotels welcoming guests in due course.”