One year on will regeneration plans announced for RAF Scampton go ahead?
Questions remain about the future of the 300 million pound project
Last updated 6th Mar 2024
There are still questions about the future of the former RAF Scampton site - as today marks a year since the announcement of a regeneration deal for the base.
It's still not clear whether the 300 million pound investment will go ahead.
It was meant to be a 'landmark' deal for the former home of the Red Arrows that was announced in the run-up to the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid.
However the home office shortly afterwards decided to use the site to house asylum seekers
Our reporter visited the gates and could only see the building of portacabins.
Discussions on handing back part of the site to West Lindsey District council said to be "going well"
The Home Office say surplus military sites will provide cheaper and more orderly, suitable accommodation for those arriving in small boats.
We spoke to Gainsborough MP Sir Edward Leigh, whose constituency covers Scampton, about what's happening with the regeneration project.
He told us: "I'm trying to persuade the Government to release a vast majority of the site back to West Lindsey District Council and to Scampton holdings so we can get this going."
"Discussions I think are going well as the moment."
"There's 3 hundred million pounds worth of regeneration including the use of a runway, heritage centre, the hangars - all about the Red Arrows and the Dambusters."
West Lindsey District council has been fighting the proposals to house migrants there even taking legal action.
The process is said to be still ongoing.