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Council confirms new bid to buy RAF Scampton site

BBC An aerial view of the former RAF Scampton site: two defunct military buildings stand in the middle of green open spaces with pine trees on the left and right of the picture. On the top right there are small white cabins nestled in two clusters.BBC
West Lindsey District Council said it was confident it could afford to buy the former airbase

A council has confirmed it is making a formal bid to buy the RAF Scampton site after the government ditched plans to house asylum seekers at the former airbase.

West Lindsey District Council said it had "officially submitted an expression of interest to acquire" the site, which was home to the Dambusters and Red Arrows, after it became "surplus to their operational requirements".

In September, the Home Office scrapped proposals to accommodate migrants there because of costs shooting up to £180m by March 2027.

Council leader Trevor Young said he was "confident" the authority could afford to buy the site. It had previously agreed a £300m plan to turn it into a business, aerospace and heritage centre.

Wooden boards with "DOWN WITH THE HOME" and "SAVE SCAMPTON" and "WE'VE WON" slogans painted
Protests against the Home Office's plans were held with campaigners camped at the site

"With the site now officially surplus to Home Office requirements, the council sees an opportunity to revisit and advance our development goals in partnership with key stakeholders," he said.

Mr Young said the past two years had been challenging but "we are determined to pursue our original vision and ensure the site is used in a way that respects its legacy and supports sustainable growth.

"RAF Scampton is a site of immense historical and economic importance, and we remain committed to unlocking its full potential for the benefit of our community," he said.

Councillors unanimously backed the decision during a committee meeting on Thursday.

MOD The Red Arrows - 9 aircrafts painted red with the union jack flag on the tail - flying in the air in formation over the RAF Scampton site. A line of smoke trails from the aircrafts jets.MOD
The Red Arrows were a familiar sight in the skies around RAF Scampton for more than 20 years

In March 2023, the council announced a £300m development plan to transform the airbase in partnership with developers Scampton Holdings Ltd, but that was put on ice when the Home Office intervened using emergency planning powers.

The council said as the government had now listed the site on its Electronic Property Information System (ePIMS), it had "triggered a 40-day expression of interest period, during which time any public sector organisations could set out their case for acquisition".

The deadline for submission of expressions of interest was 12 December, according to the authority.

Chairman of Scampton Holdings Ltd Peter Hewitt said: "This is a chance to reignite our plans that prioritise economic growth, historical preservation, and community needs.

"We are committed to doing what we can and continue to work hard with the council to ensure a bright future for RAF Scampton."

The Home Office has been approached for a comment.

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