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RAF Scampton: Council in Home Office legal battle over airfield asylum site

PA Media RAF ScamptonPA Media
Up to 2,000 asylum seekers could live at the site in Lincolnshire, the government said

A council has launched legal action against the Home Office to challenge the decision to use a local RAF station for asylum accommodation.

The government said it was to use RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire as a site for up to 2,000 asylum seekers.

West Lindsey District Council said it felt the site was not "appropriate" and it would affect plans for a £300m regeneration project.

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.

The local authority insisted there were a "significant number of barriers" to housing asylum seekers at the site.

It said these included "significant contamination" from previous site uses that would require "thorough remediation".

The body accused the Home Office of failing to provide a satisfactory response to questions it had raised, and said it has therefore commenced legal action to challenge the government department's decision.

PA Media The buildings of RAF ScamptonPA Media
People would live on the base, which is surplus to Ministry of Defence requirements

Sally Grindrod-Smith, the council's director of planning, regeneration and communities, said the move would cause "irretrievable damage" to an investment opportunity it was working on.

A deal had been agreed between West Lindsey District Council and the Ministry of Defence to purchase the site, it previously said.

The council said it also hoped to see work to "preserve and enhance the heritage of the site", which was known for its involvement in the Dambusters raid and most recently as the base for the Red Arrows.

PA Media The Red ArrowsPA Media
The Red Arrows aerobatic team were based at RAF Scampton until a move last year

Ms Grindrod-Smith said there was also a concern the Home Office did not have "the appropriate planning permission" for asylum accommodation.

"The council has therefore issued a letter before action, sent in accordance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Judicial Review, which requires the Home Secretary to respond by no later than 16:00 on Thursday 6 April 2023," she added.

According to a document published by the government following its decision, the site would accommodate "single adult male" asylum seekers.

It also said would use a "phased approach" - starting with moving 200 people on site before increasing to 2,000 over time.

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