RAF base planning major expansion of facilities

Ukrainian pilots received training at RAF Cranwell in 2022

A Lincolnshire RAF base is planning a major expansion of its college facilities.

RAF Cranwell, where both His Majesty King Charles III and his son, Prince William, received their RAF wings, is applying to North Kesteven District Council to more than triple its current capacity.

The plans include new training and accommodation facilities at the base near Sleaford, as well as refurbishing the existing site.

Eight new buildings would provide approximately 1,200 additional bed spaces, taking the number of spaces at the base from 680 to 1,849.

Planes and helicopters from RAF Cranwell often appear in royal flypasts

The plans also include more car parking spaces and supporting training infrastructure, to ensure the additional numbers do not overwhelm the current facilities.

New buildings would include training centres, gyms and education hubs, alongside single living accommodation for armed forces officers. No existing buildings would be demolished.

The cost of the project is not disclosed within council documents, however, and neither are estimated construction or completion dates.

A request for screening opinion on the proposal was submitted to the council in May, seeking to explore whether or not an environmental impact assessment would be necessary for works to proceed.

The local authority confirmed its decision notice on 10 June, saying an assessment would not be necessary in order for the authority to support this development.

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