A Judicial Review that'll determine the future of RAF Scampton is beginning today
It comes as West Lindsey District Council's challenging the Home Office over plans to house asylum seekers at the former air base
A high court hearing into the future of RAF Scampton will take place today.
It's in a dispute against the Home Office, where West Lindsey District Council say plans to house up to 2000 asylum seekers on the site has been 'unlawful' and is putting a £300 million investment at risk.
Residents of RAF Scampton, campaigners and the local council are gearing up for the crucial judicial review of the Home Office’s plan to convert the village’s historic airbase into an asylum centre.
Despite significant opposition, the Home Office intends to house up to 2,000 asylum seekers, largely from Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran on the former home of the Dambusters.
It aims to have the camp fully operational by Christmas.
However, the plan faces scrutiny by West Lindsey District Council in the form of a judicial review scheduled for today, October 31 and November 1 at the High Court in London.
The council argued that the government’s approach to housing asylum seekers on the site has been unlawful.
The review is being carried out on the grounds that the government was incorrect to rely on the Environmental Impact Assessment screening decision and Class Q emergency planning permission.
Similar claims are also set for review from Braintree District Council and Wethersfield resident Gabriel Clarke-Holland contesting the government’s plans to house up to 1,700 asylum seekers at RAF Wethersfield.
At a permission hearing in July, the Home Office insisted that its plans for Scampton have been “lawfully and genuinely” executed.
Representing the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Paul Brown KC justified the use of emergency planning powers, saying that over 45,000 asylum seekers arrived in the UK via small boats in 2022, almost double the 28,000 who arrived the previous year.
According to Home Office figures, the influx of migrants shows “no sign” of slowing down, and an additional 56,000 individuals are estimated to arrive by the year’s end.
Sarah Carter, leader of the Save Our Scampton campaign group, remains cautiously optimistic about the judicial review’s outcome.
She acknowledges the possibility of the judge ruling in their favour, but is also exploring a “Plan B,” involving additional legal avenues, should the decision not be favourable.
“I don’t think West Lindsey District Council would be naive enough to go for a judicial review and spend all that money in court if they were not confident they could win. The fact that we are actually doing this means I have a lot of confidence,” she said.
“Obviously, we’re playing against the Home Office and they play dirty, so we are also prepared it doesn’t go our way.”
Echoing Sarah’s sentiments, Debbie Rawding, 61, remains hopeful about the judicial review’s outcome, but is also bracing for all possibilities:
“We’re very anxious, very nervous and apprehensive. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that it goes in our favour, but dreading if it doesn’t,” she stated.
Mrs Rawding also expressed fear about potential changes to the community dynamic should the asylum centre go ahead:
“We’re going to be frightened to be in our community. If I pull up and there is a group of migrants at the end of the road, I’m not going to want to get out of my car and walk into my house.
“My grandchildren were looking forward to working here in the space centre once they finish school. It’s just going to be awful up here.”
Jason Bayliss, 54, added:
“I’m very stressed like everyone else on here because the decisions that are being made hundreds of miles away directly affect our lives.”
He pointed out that the Home Office’s plans for an asylum centre have disrupted a major redevelopment initiative by Scampton Holdings Ltd. This £300 million project was expected to elevate the location as a hallmark of the aerospace industry.
“It’s an enormous imposition on the whole county because what would be built here would provide over 1,000 jobs and would be genuine levelling up without the government even having to pay for it,” Jason added.
“If the government is really committed to this, nobody can understand why, out of all of the disused bases around Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, they choose to use the one with a £300 million redevelopment project on it. It is mental.
“There are plenty of people on here who can’t afford to move. The damage in house prices and insurance is placing massive financial pressure on everybody on this little camp and it’s something that was never supposed to happen.”
Scampton Councillor Roger Patterson, believes their case for the judicial review is stronger than the successful one in Linton-on-Ouse.
He stated: “I’m fairly confident because I do believe we have the planning laws on our side. If we win, hopefully, they won’t appeal and just accept the reality.”
However, he acknowledged uncertainty about alternative strategies if the decision favours the government, adding: “I don’t know what plan B is. All I know is that it will devastate us.”
A Home Office spokesperson said:
“Delivering accommodation on surplus military sites provides more orderly, suitable accommodation for those arriving in small boats whilst helping to reduce the use of hotels.
“We are confident our project, which will house asylum seekers in basic, safe and secure accommodation, meets the planning requirements."