A plan to regenerate the ancestral home of the Dambusters has taken flight as RAF Scampton has been given a new lease of life in a so-called "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".
West Lindsey District Council, who have bid for the site, want to regenerate the former home of the Red Arrows and World War II’s Dambusters, transforming it into a place of aviation heritage, education and research.
As part of this, artist’s impressions of RAF Scampton’s regeneration project have been released ahead of its sale in November.
The council’s development partner, Scampton Holdings Ltd, presented the site’s proposals, along with artist’s impressions last week.
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Peter Hewitt, Chairman, Scampton Holdings Ltd, said: “What is clear is that our proposed redevelopment represents an extraordinary and likely unique opportunity for both West Lindsey and Lincolnshire.
“It offers the potential to regenerate, reinvigorate and reposition the region as a leader in advanced defence, aerospace and innovation.”
The sale of RAF Scampton is due to conclude in November this year, with parties invited to express their interest by March 6.
Councillor Moira Westley, West Lindsey's deputy leader, said: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and the potential here is truly exciting."
Key elements of the proposal include private sector investment to support national defence infrastructure, a skilled local workforce shaped by the area’s association with RAF operations, and a “significant opportunity” to build sovereign capability for UK defence and space sectors.
The sale of RAF Scampton is due to conclude in November this year
|SCAMPTON HOLDINGS LTD.
The proposal has projected an overall economic benefit of £2.1billion.
West Lindsey District Council agreed a £300m plan to regenerate the site in March 2023, but the Conservative government announced the site would be used to house migrants.
However, these plans were scrapped by the Labour government last year, costing the taxpayer over £48million.
Reform Councillor, Trevor Bridgwood, from West Lindsey District Council, said RAF Scampton was “never suitable” to house asylum seekers.
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West Lindsey District Council plan the site to become a place of aviation heritage, education and research
|SCAMPTON HOLDINGS LTD.
He said: “The council fought long and hard to stop this and I am pleased the government saw this.
“However, at the same time I am disappointed that it took so long and cost taxpayers so much money before the Home Office reached the obvious conclusion.”
At the time, the Home Office said the cost of exiting the site was nominal compared to the cost required to keep it running for the next three years.
RAF Scampton’s history spans back to the First World War, but is best known as the home of the Dambusters, or the 617 Squadron Bomber Command, who in the height of World War II, used special bouncing bombs to attack German dams.
More recently, RAF Scampton became home to the Red Arrows in 1983, but was closed in 1995 for financial reasons.
The Red Arrows returned to the site in 2000 and remained there for over 20 years.
RAF Scampton closed again 2022 in a bid to save money, with the Red Arrows being relocated to RAF Waddington.
Councillor Bridgwood said: “The site is of national heritage importance dating back to the formation of the RAF and continuing right through both World Wars, the Cold War and right up to the modern jet age.
“This provides significant heritage and associated educational opportunities.
“To allow any regeneration to focus purely on one aspect would be a missed opportunity and miss the wider benefits to the local population and the country as a whole.”
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