Station Guardroom

Battle of Britain Memorial

In early 2000, HBSV (a Leeds based property surveyor) were finally brought in to market the site on behalf of the MoD, and it was thought likely that RAF Driffield would be sold before the end of the year.  Although information was scarce (due to reasons of confidentiality), there were several “serious” expressions of interest from developers, who had the funds to redevelop RAF Driffield.  The preferred method of disposal of this freehold property was: “an initial consideration paid upon an unconditional sale with further payments receivable by the vendor for a period of fifteen years under a ‘clawback’ arrangement.”  In effect, HBSV and its clients (Defence Estates) were looking for an initial modest payment - topped up with additional profit share or “claw back” payments to the vendor (MoD) once planning consent or alternative use(s) were obtained by the purchaser.”

One developer it has been claimed was willing to hand over the profits of every fourth house built as part-payment for the site. However, the highest “initial consideration” was thought to be only £1.2m, and this may have contributed towards the MoD decision to withdraw the site from sale.

Firing Range




Engineering Block

Accommodation "H" Block

Defence Estate Strategy

In late December 2000, those who expressed an interest in RAF Driffield were informed that the site had been taken off the market. Earlier, in June 2000, the Secretary of State launched the Defence Estate Strategy, which included an examination of the current Defence Estate needs across the whole country to establish which sites should form the basis of the long term 'optimal estate’. These 'core sites' were to be the focus of future capital investment by the MoD.  The concept was simple:  you move military units from the South of England (where land prices are much higher) to the North of England (where most recruits originate).  In developing “Super Camps”, where several units – maybe from more than one service - would relocate on one site, the MoD would thereafter make a financial killing, selling surplus, not to mention valuable “Brown Field” RAF bases and army barracks in the south.

Central Heating Station

Fire Tender Shed / Hangar Two

Dining Hall

Despite this change in direction, the preservation or even acknowledgement that Driffield is a site of historical importance or value was still not a relevant concern.  This was affirmed in a letter from Defence Estates – Catterick, who wrote: “Although the work was at an early stage, RAF Driffield was considered to have significant potential to be re-used to accommodate a range of defence functions. It was not possible to say at that stage whether this would involve the refurbishment of the existing buildings, some of which are in poor condition, new build, or a combination of the two. What was and still is unlikely however is that the site will be preserved in its historical format as this “would be unlikely to meet the needs of current occupiers”.

Army Cadet Force

After the final closure of the camp in June 1996, the Army Cadet Force fenced off the guardroom, station headquarters, sick quarters and the former single sergeant’s quarters, creating an enclave.  Unlike the rest of the site it is well looked after, though it must be noted that more could be done to preserve the character and fabric of this part of RAF Driffield.  For example, the iron railings attached to the main entrance – so typical of the 1930s expansion period have recently been removed – replaced with modern fencing.  It would have been beneficial to have had the original railings sand-blasted and galvanised before being refitted. In recent years the ACF have added a new-build indoor firing range and a couple of mobile classrooms.

ACF Accommodation Block



Station Armoury



Three-Bay Vehicle Shed

Airmen's Institute

Demolished Decontamination Block

Gone but not Forgotten

In 1997, the water tower, which some said was in danger of collapsing was pulled down – a job which was expected to take a few weeks.  No one told the water tower, which resisted any attempt to remove it, with the demolition taking months rather than weeks to complete.  Other buildings removed during this period were the decontamination centre (unwounded), rations store and the combined mortuary and ambulance station. 

While the officer’s mess and the on-camp houses have been fenced off, this has not prevented some vandalism and many windows have inevitability been smashed.  It is rumoured that the SAS visited the site in the late 1990s, using several buildings to practice the rapid entry of blockaded rooms using explosives.  The Prison Service has also used a number of accommodation blocks, to train officers in riot control and prisoner restraint techniques. 

While armed police officers are still frequent visitors to the camp, they made more of an impression back in the 1990s, when it is rumoured that a hostage rescue exercise didn’t quite go to plan. During a staged rescue, a rogue “Flash Bang” grenade started a fire, resulting in adjoining Warrant Officer’s Married Quarters (Air Ministry Drawing No.193/35) being lost.  The burnt out remains were later removed. 

Rural Payments Agency

Since the late 1970s, the four remaining “C Type” aircraft hangars were used to store grain by the Rural Payments Agency (formally the Intervention Board).  Compared to the rest of the camp, the hangars are a credit to the Rural Payments Agency and are well preserved. In August 2003, the last of approximately 2,000 tons of grain left the stores at Driffield, marking the closure of these facilities.  Valued at £1.053m, the hangars were finally sold in early 2006 to a property development company, trading as Driffield Business Park Ltd. Thankfully the future of these giant structures is assured as most have been leased to local businesses.

Accommodation "T" Block

Airmen's Married Quarters

Auchinleck Close (1960s era Airmen’s Married Quarters)

Throughout the 1990s, the houses on Auchinleck Close were released for sale on the open market.  These were mostly refurnished and eagerly snapped up, mostly by first time buyers.  As the years have passed, some homeowners have built extensions, garages and fenced off their front gardens.  Plastic uPVC windows have replaced the traditional metal window frames, while the original doors have also been replace with a variety of modern designs.  To the South of Auchinleck Close a new housing estate is in the process of being built on what was a grass field.  In recent years the SNCO houses on Ramsden Close and the Officer Married Quarters on Gott Close have also been placed on the market. Behind Auchinleck Close a new housing development has emerged - Southwood Park, containing approximately 60 new dwellings.