West Lindsey District Council has served a Temporary Stop Notice to prevent the Home Office from continuing with development work at RAF Scampton.
The Temporary Stop Notice pursuant to section171E of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), was issued at 7am this morning (8 September 2023).
The council considers that there has been a breach of planning control relating specifically to the Listed Buildings and archaeology on the site. The alleged breaches include the installation of permanent palisade fencing, intrusive surveying works, groundworks, and connections to utilities, having the potential to cause irreversible damage to important heritage assets.
The Temporary Stop Notice requires the Home Office and all associated contractors to cease all works in respect of the Listed Buildings, all intrusive surveying works, ground works and the installation of fencing on the site.
The notice was displayed on site from 7am this morning (8 September 2023) and takes immediate effect for 28 days unless withdrawn earlier. It is an offence under section 171G of the Town and Country Planning Act to contravene a Temporary Stop Notice.
Sally Grindrod-Smith, Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities at West Lindsey District Council, said: “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/work phasing plans; details of materials; detailed summary/summaries and schedule/s 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.
“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 notice will cease to have effect on 5 October 2023. The council is urging the Home Office and its contractors to comply with the Temporary Stop Notice as required by law and engage with the Local Planning Authority so that an appropriate assessment of the planned development may be undertaken.
