Council unanimously agrees to progress plans to acquire the former RAF Scampton site
West Lindsey District Council has unanimously agreed to progress plans to acquire the former RAF Scampton site from the Home Office.
This marks a significant step forward in delivering a once-in-a-generation regeneration opportunity for the district.
The decision made at the full council meeting on Monday, March 2, builds on work first undertaken by the council several years ago prior to the Home Office exploring options to use it for asylum accommodation.
It reinforces the council’s long-term commitment to securing a sustainable and economically beneficial future for the historic 800-acre site.
The council is working in partnership with Scampton Holdings Limited, which has been selected as its Development Partner, following a successful public procurement exercise.
Coun Jackie Brockway, leader of the council, said: “The council has once again unanimously agreed to make a bid for the former RAF Scampton site from the Home Office.
“This is a position we have consistently supported because we have always recognised the significant opportunity this site presents for our district and beyond.
“Our vision for RAF Scampton has not changed. We believe regeneration of the site will create jobs, attract investment and bring visitors to the area, delivering lasting economic and community benefits.
“Working in partnership with Scampton Holdings Limited, we remain committed to securing a landmark scheme that protects the sites heritage while unlocking its potential.”
The proposed regeneration represents an investment of more than £300 million and will preserve, protect and enhance RAF Scampton’s internationally significant heritage while creating new opportunities across aviation, business, education and tourism.
Since the closure of the base was announced in 2018, the council has worked extensively with the Ministry of Defence, local stakeholders and the local community to secure the best possible long-term outcome for the site and its role within the wider district and county economy.
At the heart of the proposals is the continued use of Scampton as an operational airfield, supporting investment and growth across four key areas, commercial activity, aerospace and aviation; heritage and cultural preservation; hospitality and tourism and education, skills and research.
Sally Grindrod-Smith, the council’s director of planning, regeneration and community, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “There are huge possibilities for the site, specifically in the defence sector.
“A number of investors want to make Scampton their home and we’d love to facilitate that. There would be significant career opportunities in defence, aviation, drone technology, science and engineering.”
A report produced by Focus Consultants revealed £2.1 billion economic boost from the development. It was commissioned by Scampton Holdings Ltd and West Lindsey District Council in 2025 and outlines the potential of the former RAF Scampton site to become a nationally significant hub for employment, tourism, innovation, and community regeneration, supporting thousands of jobs and preserving the site’s historic legacy.
Key projected benefits include up to 3,625 new jobs, with more than 800 roles in defence and aerospace, bolstering high-value industry growth; £40 million in construction Gross Value Added (GVA), supporting 770 person-years of employment during the build phase; a £65 million boost to local tourism, driven by more than 300,000 annual visitors and plans for a new air show celebrating Scampton’s aviation heritage; £25 million investment in research, development and skills, supporting STEM education, apprenticeships, and long-term career opportunities for local people and a substantial £417 million uplift in community wellbeing, land value and heritage preservation, ensuring the legacy of RAF Scampton is safeguarded for future generations.
This is the second time the council has made an attempt to buy the site, with the first being derailed by the government’s asylum seeker housing plans in 2023.
The council took the government to the high court to challenge this, and the plans were eventually abandoned by Labour 18 months ago.
Former Scampton resident Coun Tom Smith said: “It’s been quite a ride from the highs of nearly signing to the lows of the judicial review, and now to here.
“If we are successful, this will transform Lincolnshire, and its economy and wage bracket.
“This is one of the easiest decisions I’ve been asked to make as a councillor.”
Work on the plans has been underway since the government first announced its intention to close RAF Scampton back in 2019.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Leslie Rollings said she was disappointed by the delays, but was optimistic about the future.
“It is one of few places in the UK where satellites can be launched and aircraft can be built and tested due to its extra long runway,” she said.
“It’s very disappointing that the Home Office wasted millions renting portacabins to put on the site, but this will transform West Lindsey and Lincoln over the coming decades.”
It’s hoped that the sale of the site will be completed by November 2026.