Labour has scrapped the former Tory government’s plans to house asylum seekers at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.
Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle said the plan, which has already cost £60m, “fails to deliver value for money for the taxpayer”.
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In a written ministerial statement, she said running the site from now until March 2027 would cost a further £122m – taking the total sum to nearer £200m.
“This is an unacceptable cost,” she said, adding: “It is now better value for money to exit the site.”
The decision was welcomed by Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative MP who represents the area.
He wrote on X: “Victory: the two-year battle is over. We have won.”
He added: “We want the full regeneration package to go ahead, and the site not just sold for housing.”
The previous government had planned to house about 1,500 asylum seekers at the now disused RAF Scampton, in the hope of reducing the hotel bill for people who arrive in the UK by small boat, and ultimately deter them from making the crossing.
The plans were met with opposition from the outset as it threatened a £300m deal by West Lindsey District Council aimed at turning the base into a heritage site.
The airfield, which closed in 2022, is the former home of The Red Arrows aerobatics display team and the Dambusters – the squadron that carried out one of the Second World War’s most famous air raids.
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In her statement, Ms Eagle said her government have “listened to community feedback highlighting the concerns about the history of the site and alternative development plans”.
She said there will be “additional costs of holding and managing the site” while it is closed down, but “this still represents a better financial decision”.
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“The government’s intention is to return to using long-standing dispersed asylum accommodation and will do so as soon as is practicable, once we have made progress on clearing the backlog,” she added.
“Any decision regarding the use of accommodation sites will be fully considered, with a firm focus on value for money and ensuring proper standards are in place.”
The new Labour government has already scrapped the Tories’ flagship Rwanda policy and closed down the Bibby Stockholm barge that was moored in Dorset.
Sir Keir Starmer has said he won’t “waste money on gimmicks” and wants to reduce Channel crossings instead by tackling people smuggling gangs, while also pumping resources into clearing the asylum backlog and increasing returns where migrants have no right to remain.
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