RAF Scampton

The closure of RAF Scampton was announced in 2018 as part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) 'A Better Defence Estate' strategy. The primary reason was economic and strategic; the MoD aimed to save approximately £3 billion by 2040 by consolidating its estate and divesting sites that were no longer essential for military requirements. RAF Scampton was identified as a surplus site, leading to the relocation of its resident units and its eventual disposal.

Following the departure of the RAF, the site was handed over to the UK's Home Office. In March 2023, the government announced controversial plans to use the former airbase to house up to 2,000 male asylum seekers in temporary, porta-cabin style accommodation. This decision has been met with significant local opposition and legal challenges from West Lindsey District Council, citing concerns about the suitability of the site, the lack of infrastructure, and the potential damage to the site's unique heritage. Despite ongoing legal battles and protests, the Home Office has begun moving asylum seekers onto the site as of late 2023.

RAF Scampton has a rich and pivotal history in British military aviation.

- **Origins:** First opened in 1916 as Home Defence Flight Station Brattleby, it was renamed Scampton a year later and served as a training base for pilots in World War I.

- **World War II - The Dambusters:** The station is most famously known as the home of the legendary No. 617 Squadron, 'The Dambusters'. In 1943, under the command of Wing Commander Guy Gibson, the squadron was formed at Scampton specifically for Operation Chastise. They trained in secrecy, flying modified Avro Lancaster bombers to deploy Barnes Wallis's 'bouncing bomb' against the dams of Germany's Ruhr valley. The original hangars, Guy Gibson's office, and the graves of his dog are still present on the site.

- **Cold War - V-Bomber Base:** After WWII, Scampton became a key base in the UK's Cold War nuclear deterrent. The runway was significantly extended in the 1950s to accommodate the Avro Vulcan V-bombers of the V-force, which were on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) to deliver nuclear weapons if necessary.

- **Modern Era - The Red Arrows:** From 1983 to 1995, and again from 2000 until its closure, RAF Scampton was the home of the world-renowned Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows. Their BAE Hawk T1 jets were a familiar sight in the skies above Lincolnshire. The station also hosted the No. 1 Air Control Centre (1ACC). The official ICAO code for the airport when active was EGXP.

There are no plans for the site to reopen as a military airbase. However, there is a significant and competing vision for its future. A private developer, Scampton Holdings Ltd., has secured a £300 million investment plan to redevelop the site into a landmark destination. This regeneration project, known as 'Scampton Park', aims to:

- Preserve the runway and create an active general aviation airfield.
- Protect and enhance the heritage assets, including the Dambusters' hangars and a museum.
- Develop advanced manufacturing, technology, and research facilities.
- Build a hotel, new housing, and retail and leisure spaces.

This plan is projected to create thousands of jobs and has strong support from the local council and community. The future of the site is currently highly contested and uncertain, hinging on the outcome of the political and legal conflict between the Home Office's asylum accommodation plans and the council-backed regeneration proposal.