![Challenging the return of US nukes to Britain [Briefing]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/595e193c36e5d38c3baa8e18/1704796018670-W66P68Z6ZEOLZTA80G9D/Graphic-01.jpg)
London CND Conference Briefing
Challenging the return of US nukes to Britain
RAF Lakenheath, located just 100 km from London, was home to 110 nuclear bombs until 2008 when they were removed due to popular protest. Now, we believe they’re back. These suspicions derive from when the US Department of Defence added the UK to a list of NATO nuclear weapons storage locations in Europe that are receiving upgrades through a multimillion-dollar infrastructure program. Notably, the UK was not part of a comparable list in the preceding year, indicating a recent decision.
Despite its RAF designation, Lakenheath is effectively managed by the USAF, housing their units and personnel. It hosts the 48th Fighter Wing (48 FW) under the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA), overseeing F-15C/D Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, and F-35A Lightning II operations. With around 6,000 personnel, it's the largest deployment of USAF personnel in Britain and had hosted US nuclear weapons since 1954.
The US is the only country to locate its nuclear weapons outside its own borders and this substantial surge in NATO's ability to conduct nuclear warfare in Europe poses a significant risk of destabilisation. The reintroduction of these weapons will escalate global tensions and position Britain at the forefront in a potential NATO/Russia conflict.
CND’s Legal Challenge
CND is legally contesting development at RAF Lakenheath and calling for the Ministry of Defence to halt the works at the base until an environmental impact assessment has been conducted. CND believe, under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2017, that the project does not have permitted development rights. The development can proceed without an environmental assessment if executed on behalf of the Crown. However, CND argue this exception does not apply since the construction is conducted for the USAF.
CND emphasises that the developments at RAF Lakenheath— rapid airfield damage repair facilities (RADR), a child development centre, and a 144-bed dormitory—should have been treated as a unified project in the planning process. According to Planning Practice Guidance, “an application should not be considered in isolation if, in reality, it is an integral part of a more substantial development”. Moreover, the development’s impact should be viewed within the wider context, encompassing both construction and the consequences of hosting nuclear arms.
While environmental impact screenings were conducted separately for the child development centre and RADR, no assessment was undertaken for the 144-bed dormitory. While the MoD believes in its development rights, CND contends that West Suffolk Council's lack of screening disqualifies it from having these rights.
Our concern extends beyond environmental impacts to encompass risks like mishandling of weapons, security threats, and potential UK targeting if nuclear armament occurs. CND asserts that the ongoing construction ignores these risks. Our challenge aims for an inclusion of comprehensive evaluation of US nuclear armament implications, advocating for transparency and accountability in these developments.