West Lindsey District Council has issued a 'Temporary Stop Notice' at Scampton site
The notice is to prevent the Home Office continuing with development work there
Last updated 8th Sep 2023
A Temporary Stop notice has been served by West Lindsey District Council to prevent the Home Office from continuing with development work at RAF Scampton.
The Temporary Stop Notice pursuant to section171E of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), was issued at 7am this morning (8 September 2023).
The council says it considers there has been a breach of planning control in relation to Listed Buildings on the site.
Alleged breaches include the installation of permanent palisade fencing, intrusive surveying works, groundworks, and connections to utilities, having the potential to cause irreversible damage to important heritage assets.
The Notice takes immediate effect for 28 days unless it's withdrawn earlier.
The Home Office is planning to house up to 2,000 migrants at the site, with the first expected towards the end of this month.
Sally Grindrod-Smith, Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities at West Lindsey District Council, said:
“The council is the relevant Local Planning Authority for the site. We are aware that there are works ongoing on site. However, despite repeated requests and service of a Planning Contravention Notice, we have not been provided with any details of: schedules of works; method statements; site plans/work phasing plans; details of materials; detailed summary/summaries and schedule/s of all surveys being undertaken on the site; or a marked-up site plan to show the locations of surveys having already been undertaken and those proposed.
“Additionally, the council has not been approached to determine whether Listed Building Consent is required for works currently being undertaken on the site. The council is concerned about the future of the significant and important heritage on site at RAF Scampton and the Home Office has not provided the necessary information or reassurances.
“Unfortunately, we have been left with no alternative but to issue a Temporary Stop Notice. This means that development work should halt on site with immediate effect until we are furnished with details of the proposed works and can determine whether additional planning consents are required. The council has also served a further Planning Contravention Notice seeking the relevant information.”
Responding to the move, the Home Office said it is considering the implications of the notice and that it recognised its responsibilities to protect heritage assets at the site.
A Home Office spokesperson said:
“Delivering accommodation on surplus military sites provides cheaper and 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.”
RAF Scampton was home to the 617 Squadron, known for the Dambusters raid during the Second World War, and was also home to the Red Arrows.
The Home Office announced in March that migrants would be housed on the site, as well as at RAF Wethersfield in Braintree, Essex.
About 2,000 migrants are expected to be accommodated at the former base, but their arrival has reportedly been pushed back until October due to a delay in carrying out surveys on the 14 buildings designated for migrant accommodation