Home Office ordered to cease work on former RAF base set to deal with migrants
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district council has ordered the Home Office to cease work on a former RAF base which is ready to deal with migrants after accusing it of breaching planning guidelines.
West Lindsey District Council stated it issued the a brief cease discover pursuant to part 171E of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 at 7am on Friday.
The council stated it issued the discover after it deemed there had been a breach of planning controls referring to listed buildings and archaeology on the location of the RAF Scampton base in Lincolnshire.
It stated breaches embrace putting in perimeter fencing and endeavor intrusive groundworks which may “cause irreversible damage to important heritage assets”.
The council is worried about the way forward for the numerous and vital heritage on web site at RAF Scampton and the Home Office has not supplied the mandatory info or reassurances
The Home Office stated it was “confident” their work meets planning necessities.
The discover means the Home Office and its contractors should instantly cease any work associated to listed buildings, and “all intrusive surveying works, groundworks and the installation of the fencing on the site”.
Sally Grindrod-Smith, director of planning, regeneration and communities on the council, stated: “The council is the relevant local planning authority for the site.
“We are aware that there are works ongoing on site.
“However, despite repeated requests and service of a planning contravention notice, we have not been provided with any details of schedules of works, method statements, site plans or work phasing plans, details of materials, a detailed summary and schedule of all surveys being undertaken on the site or a marked-up site plan to show the locations of surveys having already been undertaken and those proposed.
“Additionally, the council has not been approached to determine whether listed building consent is required for works currently being undertaken on the site.
“The council is concerned about the future of the significant and important heritage on site at RAF Scampton and the Home Office has not provided the necessary information or reassurances.
This means that development work should halt on-site with immediate effect until we are furnished with details of the proposed works and can determine whether additional planning consents are required
“Unfortunately, we have been left with no alternative but to issue a temporary stop notice.
“This means that development work should halt on-site with immediate effect until we are furnished with details of the proposed works and can determine whether additional planning consents are required.
“The council has also served a further planning contravention notice seeking the relevant information.”
The discover took impact instantly and can stay in place for 28 days except the council withdraws it earlier.
It is an offence below part 171G of the Town and Country Planning Act to contravene the discover.
Responding to the transfer, the Home Office stated it’s contemplating the implications of the discover and that it recognised its duties to guard heritage belongings on the web site.
A spokesperson stated: “Delivering accommodation on surplus military sites provides cheaper and more orderly, suitable accommodation for those arriving in small boats whilst helping to reduce the use of hotels.
“We are confident our project, which will house asylum seekers in basic, safe and secure accommodation, meets the planning requirements.”
RAF Scampton was residence to the 617 Squadron, recognized for the Dambusters raid throughout the Second World War, and was additionally residence to the Red Arrows.
The Home Office introduced in March that migrants can be housed on the location, in addition to at RAF Wethersfield in Braintree, Essex.
About 2,000 migrants are anticipated to be accommodated on the former base, however their arrival has reportedly been pushed again till October because of a delay in finishing up surveys on the 14 buildings designated for migrant lodging.
The council misplaced an injunction bid in May to halt the transfer, however in July was given the inexperienced gentle to convey a High Court problem.
Peter Hewitt, chairman of Scampton Holdings Ltd, stated: “Scampton Holdings Ltd fully supports West Lindsey District Council’s decision to serve a temporary stop notice to the Home Office regarding the development of RAF Scampton.
“It is imperative to safeguard the site’s significant heritage, commercial prospects and ensure compliance with all necessary planning consents.
“We trust that the Home Office will promptly engage with the local planning authority to formulate an alternative location to house asylum seekers and safeguard RAF Scampton’s invaluable assets and potential for generations to come.”
SHL was main a £300 million regeneration challenge at Scampton earlier than the migrant plans have been introduced
The purpose was to create “aviation heritage, business, aerospace, space and aviation technology and education opportunities”, in accordance with the council, with an operational runway on the coronary heart of the plans and 1000’s of jobs to be created.