Legal Halt at RAF Scampton Soon to Accommodate Asylum Seekers
An enforcement and stop notice has been served upon the Home Office by West Lindsey District Council, calling for all work at RAF Scampton to be halted. The purpose of the notice is to cease any activity related to housing 2,000 asylum seekers at the site.
Temporary Stop Notice
The Home Office originally planned for the site to reach full capacity by December 2023, however, due to a potential breach of planning control, work had to be stopped. This temporary halt was first put into motion by West Lindsey District Council (WLDC) on September 8, under sections 172 and 183 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Site Investigation
A site visit was conducted shortly afterwards on September 14, in which officers from WLDC concluded another breach of planning control had occurred. The council deems the issue significant enough to warrant immediate public interest, hence issuing the stop notice.
"From the moment the decision to use RAF Scampton as an asylum accommodation centre was made, the council have been clear that this is not an appropriate site for this purpose. It is incredibly disappointing that despite repeated assurances, the Home Office has failed to secure appropriate planning permission or to adequately assess the impact of their proposals. It is an offence to contravene the Stop Notice and I urge the Home Office to cease all works in line with this legal action," said Councillor Trevor Young, leader of West Lindsey District Council.
Planning Breach Explanation
The breach in planning control is described as operable without correct planning permission. The concerns are associated with the presence of Portakabins to house asylum seekers and significant invasive grounds, in addition to unauthorised change of use at the site.
"At the site visit last week, officers observed significant works on site that were not considered as part of the Home Office’s Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Request. Additionally, it is clear from the scale of works on Site that this development is not limited to a temporary period of 12 months," expressed Sally Grindrod-Smith, director of planning regeneration and Communities at West Lindsey District Council.
Requirements Going Forward
The issued Enforcement Notice and Stop Notice requires the Home Office to cease using the site as accommodation for asylum seekers and remove any residing there. The Home Office must also halt operational development works related to the placement of Portakabins and associated works. Intrusive groundworks must stop and the site should be restored to its original condition.
Upcoming Judicial Review
A high court date has now been confirmed for West Lindsey District Council’s judicial review which will take place on October 31 and November 1.