Historic Grade II-listed buildings at RAF Scampton, the former home of the Dambusters squadron, are reportedly falling into disrepair, prompting concerns from council officials ahead of the Government's planned sale of the site. West Lindsey District Council has warned that the former officers' mess and four hangars are suffering from neglect, with fears that winter weather could cause further damage.
The officers' mess, once used by members of the famous 617 Squadron, is now boarded up, and footage of its interior has been shared by urban explorers since the base closed. Sally Grindrod-Smith, the council's director of planning, expressed particular concern about the building, warning that water could be entering the structure.
Council Urges Home Office Action
Ms Grindrod-Smith told Lincolnshire Live: "The poor condition of it is poorly visible from the road. We believe there’s serious water ingress. We have flagged this with the Home Office. The buildings are supposed to have a heritage management plan, and there's a risk of further deterioration if we have a bad winter."
She urged the Home Office to take action before the site changes hands, adding: "I would really like to see the Home Office do something soon - we have been saying that for two years. We expect the new owners to take the responsibility seriously."
RAF Scampton's historic hangars also serve as a reminder of the airfield's significance to Bomber Command, with the base continuing to play an important military role throughout the Cold War.
Home Office Disputes Neglect Claims
The Home Office has disputed suggestions that the protected buildings are not being properly maintained. It said a maintenance and monitoring programme remains in place, including regular inspections, while repairs are continuing on the hangars. However, the department acknowledged that temporary repairs to the officers' mess are not being undertaken while the property is on the market.
The concerns come as the Government prepares to sell RAF Scampton to a new owner following the rejection of a bid from West Lindsey District Council and Scampton Holdings Ltd. The rejected proposal would have seen the former airbase transformed into a centre for aviation, heritage and research. Instead, the Government is understood to be planning to sell the site to an unnamed company in the defence sector, with the identity of the preferred bidder remaining confidential for commercially sensitive reasons.
Sale Plans and Local Reaction
The Home Office said it is finalising contractual and commercial arrangements, although no date has been confirmed for the transfer. West Lindsey District Council leader Jackie Brockway suggested rising global tensions had played a part in the Government's decision to reject the council-backed bid.
Speaking as councillors discussed the future of RAF Scampton on Monday (November 9), she said: "Unfortunately, the world has changed during the bidding process. It’s not surprising that the government wants a big installation in this military county given Putin’s threats. There was nothing wrong with our bid, but the needs of the nation have changed."
However, Councillor Roger Patterson, who represents Scampton, expressed hope that the original proposals could still form part of the site's future. He said: "There is enough site there that Scampton Holdings Ltd could easily sit alongside the other bidder. I’m hoping someone in government will listen and the deal isn’t quite dead."
Councillor Tom Smith, whose father was stationed at RAF Scampton, also called for the sale to be completed quickly amid concerns about the deterioration of the historic buildings. He said: "The heritage assets are degrading, and have been since the Home Office took over." An independent review of the Scampton Holdings bid found that the proposed redevelopment would have added £3billion to the local economy over 15 years and created 3,625 new jobs.
