Decision on RAF Scampton legal challenge could take several weeks

The High Court hearing has taken place

Author: PAPublished 2nd Nov 2023

We'll have to wait to discover the outcome of the High Court hearing over Home Office plans to house 2 thousand asylum seekers at the former RAF Scampton base

Ministers have been fighting claims put forward by West Lindsey District Council during a legal challenge that using the site in this way is unlawful

The Government has denied that and has strongly contested the action.

Judgement has been reserved - meaning it's likely to take a number of weeks.

Complaints are being made about ministers' use of planning rules.

Mrs Justice Thornton finished overseeing a hearing at the High Court in London on Wednesday and said she would deliver a ruling on a date to be fixed.

Ministers says the claims should be dismissed.

They've previously said the site IS suitable for migrants and it's needed to reduce the cost of using hotels.

Lawyers representing councils have made complaints about ministers' use of planning rules.

They say ministers cannot rely on "permitted development rights" because there is no "emergency".

Lawyers have also raised concerns about migrants being housed for longer than an initially envisaged 12 months.

We maintain our position that this is not an appropriate site for this purpose

We've been getting reaction from West Kindsey District council following the hearing.

Cllr Trevor Young, Leader of West Lindsey District Council, said: “West Lindsey District Council welcomed the opportunity to set out our arguments as part of the Judicial Review. "

"We maintain our position that this is not an appropriate site for this purpose the Home Office intends to use it for."

"Not only that the decision made is jeopardising our £300 million - once in a generation, levelling up, regeneration scheme – which has taken years to plan for."

“We now eagerly await the outcome from the Judge, which we very much hope is the right one for the residents of Scampton and West Lindsey."

We have done all we can for now

"I would like to thank our community for their unwavering support, their intelligence sharing and their patience as we proceeded with the legal challenge."

"Together, we have done all we can for now."

Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities, Sally Grindrod-Smith said:

“As we await the outcome of the judgement, we will continue to hold the Home Office to account and seek to use any powers we have as the Local Planning Authority to do so."

"We have heard no evidence during the course of these proceedings which changes our position.”

“Together with our partners across the public sector in Lincolnshire we will continue to seek assurance from the Home Office that the site will be safe, legal and compliant."

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