Lincolnshire leaders demand urgent meeting over RAF Scampton’s future
Calls for clarity continue as £300m regeneration plan hangs in the balance
Council leaders across Lincolnshire are demanding urgent talks with the Home Office to clarify the future of RAF Scampton.
In a joint letter to the new Home Office minister Alex Norris, leaders from West Lindsey, the City of Lincoln, and Lincolnshire County Council - along with the Mayor of Lincolnshire - have called for a meeting to discuss the former air base.
The site has been at the centre of national debate after the Government’s previous plan to use it for asylum accommodation was scrapped last year.
But with ministers now reviewing military sites again, leaders say local communities and businesses “deserve clarity” over what lies ahead.
West Lindsey District Council leader Jackie Brockway said:
“We are calling for urgent dialogue with the Home Office and stand ready to meet at the earliest opportunity. RAF Scampton is a nationally significant asset with the potential to play a vital role in the UK’s defence and security sector.
"Local people and partners are left in limbo, with no certainty about what lies ahead. Now is the time to unlock its potential – not revisit unsuitable proposals.”
The council, working with Scampton Holdings Ltd, has drawn up a £300 million regeneration plan. Proposals include creating an aerospace and defence hub, a new air show, and investment in skills and research.
An independent report predicts the scheme could deliver 3,600 jobs, a £2.1 billion economic boost, and safeguard the site’s aviation heritage.
Leaders argue the project offers a “viable and deliverable alternative” that would benefit both the local economy and national priorities.
A Home Office spokesperson said:
“As part of our commitment to close all asylum hotels, we are looking at a range of more appropriate sites including disused accommodation, industrial and ex-military sites so we can reduce the impact on communities.
“We are working with local authorities, property partners and across government to accelerate this. But safety will always be a top priority and any asylum accommodation must first undergo strict inspections. We will set out more detail in due course.”