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”.
In a written ministerial statement, she said running the site from now until March 2027 would cost a further £122m – “taking the total cost for using this single site for a short time as asylum accommodation 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.”
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