RAF Scampton sale by mid-2026, meeting told

The sale of a former RAF base in Lincolnshire is expected to be completed around mid-2026, a council meeting heard.

The Home Office is getting ready to sell the RAF Scampton site, near Lincoln, with West Lindsey District Council keen to buy it.

Lincolnshire County Council was told on Tuesday that Alex Norris, the Minister for Border Security, said the site will be marketed for sale soon, with the sale process expected to take six months.

Councillor Trevor Bridgewood said it was "a bit disappointing" that it would take until June next year, but added "it's not over until the fat lady sings".

The minister also confirmed that any plans to use the site to house asylum seekers had been completely ruled out, despite recent speculation.

It comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said last month that he intended to keep his promise to not use RAF Scampton to house asylum seekers.

The former Red Arrows base was earmarked to play such a role under the previous Conservative government, but the plans were scrapped by Labour last year.

West Lindsey District Council said its plans for the site with Scampton Holdings Ltd would generate £2bn for the local economy over the next 15 years.

It proposes a huge regeneration of the site, with plans to use the 800-acre location for aviation, heritage, tourism, education and research.

West Lindsey District council leader Jackie Brockway, said recently that preparations were "well under way" for the sale, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Brockway said she has written to the Prime Minister, along with Lincolnshire County Council and City of Lincoln Council, to urge him to act quickly "to realise the benefits".

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