Home Office will not use RAF Scampton for asylum accommodation

Contributed by: UK Government and Public Sector

Issued by: Home Office

Plans to house asylum seekers at RAF Scampton axed as latest assessment finds site is not value for money for the taxpayer.

The Home Office has made the decision to end plans to house asylum seekers at RAF Scampton, the former Ministry of Defence site in Lincolnshire.

Opening the site from this autumn as planned would have cost a total of £122 million by the end of its use in 2027, meaning the site no longer represents value for money.

A total of £60 million has already been spent on the site.

Work to close the site will begin immediately with the sale happening in line with the process for disposing of Crown land.

Progress is already being made to clear the backlog of asylum cases, which will save around £7.7 billion in asylum costs over the next decade.

The Minister for Border Security and Asylum, Dame Angela Eagle MP said:

"Faster asylum processing, increased returns and tighter enforcement of immigration rules will reduce demand for accommodation like Scampton and save millions for the taxpayer as we drive forward work to clear the asylum backlog and strengthen our border security.

"We have also listened to community feedback and concerns about using this site for asylum accommodation."

Tags

Government
Scampton

More Like This

UK Government and Public Sector
10:41 - 11 Feb 2025

Home Office smashes targets with mass surge in migrant removals

UK Government and Public Sector
08:42 - 15 Oct 2024

Thousands of new homes to be built as government unlocks brownfield sites

UK Government and Public Sector
08:37 - 18 Sep 2024

New investment for Border Security Command

UK Government and Public Sector
11:48 - 11 Dec 2024

Thousands of new prison places to be built to keep streets safe

UK Government and Public Sector
10:55 - 12 Feb 2025

Thousands to benefit from the security of a safe home