Fresh legal action will be launched on plans to house asylum seekers at the former RAF Scampton site
Council votes unanimously to take the action
Last updated 2nd Feb 2024
There's to be fresh legal action on plans to house asylum seekers at the former RAF Scampton site.
It's as the Home Office has confirmed it's looking to secure planning permission for the use of the site for asylum accommodation for three and a half years from April.
West Lindsey District councillors have unanimously backed the measure to take legal action. The council has long argued the base is totally unsuitable to house migrants.
They claim the Home office isn't following proper procedure in securing planning permission and assessing the site .
The council says it fails to take into consideration the harm caused to listed buildings there and that the site isn't suitable for because of its rural nature and doesn't have the proper infrastructure.
They now plan to go to court once again.
The Home office has previously said they're confident the project meets planning requirements and that it needs surplus military sites to reduce the cost of using hotels.
Today a Home Office spokesperson said:
“Delivering accommodation on surplus military sites provides more orderly, suitable accommodation for those arriving in small boats while reducing the use of hotels.
“We understand the concerns of local communities and are liaising with councils and local services to manage the impact of using these sites on a temporary basis.
“We remain committed to working with key partners to facilitate their visions for Scampton in the future.”
Cllr Trevor Young, Leader of West Lindsey District Council, said:
“The Council’s decision demonstrates our commitment to hold the Government to account in relation to its decision to use RAF Scampton for the purposes of housing, 2000 male asylum seekers.
“The airbase is a place with significant history, as many of you will know, it was once home to the Dambusters. It is important for us to preserve the historical and architectural integrity of the listed structures and the setting at RAF Scampton as they contribute significantly to the cultural heritage of the area.
“Not only is the site of national importance it is also key to unlocking our £300 million regeneration investment in the district and it needs to be protected to safeguard the unique investment that is knocking at our door.”
Cllr Young is urging the Home Office to reconsider the SDO proposal for RAF Scampton:
“The Government has not only failed to understand the complexity of the site through its inadequate Environment Impact Assessment, but it has also failed to engage properly with local people throughout the process leading to significant anxiety within the community.
“RAF Scampton is wholly unsuitable for the purpose they propose and as such they need to engage in meaningful consultation with all future stakeholders to ensure a balanced and sustainable approach to addressing asylum seeker accommodation needs is developed nationally. It can’t simply continue to be a postcode lottery based on the availability of Crown Land alone.”
The Home Office originally sought to secure planning permission to use the site as asylum accommodation under permitted development rights (emergency powers known as Class Q) for 12 months up to April 2024. The Council, along with Braintree District Council and a local resident in Wethersfield challenged the use of Class Q through a Judicial Review, which is currently going through the appeal process.
Activity on site has been stalled due to the Council serving a planning Enforcement and Stop Notice on the site, which the Home Office are appealing, but which currently restricts work being carried out for the purpose of standing up the site to house asylum seekers.
Sally Grindrod-Smith, Director for Planning, Regeneration and Communities at West Lindsey District Council said:
“We continue to hold the view that RAF Scampton is an unsuitable site for asylum seeker accommodation. The Governments own assessment of the impacts through their EIA Screen Direction fails to address our long held and fundamental concerns. As such it is important that we continue to make this point and where necessary challenge their decisions through the court.
“We also consider that using an SDO by means of securing planning approval for this major development is completely inappropriate and goes against everything the planning process stands for.”
The scale of the proposed development is classed as a ‘major development’ encompassing approximately 320ha of land and will accommodate 2000 asylum seekers.