Spelthorne Borough Council says the Home Office is now “actively engaging” with it over the future of the Stanwell Hotel.

The government department wants to use the site purely for housing male asylum seekers which is something the council opposes.

An amendment calling for the hotel’s permanent closure for housing asylum seekers was discounted by councillors at a meeting last week.

They say they are mindful that the previous government entered into a contractual arrangement with the owners of the property.