23 August 2022
Manston Airport in Kent could operating again as soon as 2025 after the plan by developers RiverOak Strategic Partners (RSP) was given the go-ahead by Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport.
It’s taken more than five years but finally RSP has confirmed it has received the redetermined Development Consent Order, from the Department for Transport, for its plans to invest up to £500 million in Manston Airport. The airport was closed in 2014.
The revived Manston Airport will provide air freight operators with an alternative to already busy London airports, and could also ease road congestion around the Channel Tunnel. RSP says Manston is expected to create over 23,000 jobs across east Kent and the wider national economy.
Manston has already announced a contract to serve as a testing destination for hydrogen fuel cell systems being developed by Hypoint based at nearby Sandwich. This will enable HyPoint’s aviation customers to use the airport’s existing infrastructure, as well as planned new testing zones, to evaluate HyPoint’s hydrogen fuel cell system in their new or retrofitted aircraft.
Hypoint’s fuel cell technology for aircraft will be tested at Manston. Image: Hypoint
RSP Director Tony Freudmann said, “Today is a day to celebrate the culmination of years of campaigning. I would like to pay tribute to the extraordinary army of Manston Airport supporters who have never given up hope of seeing new life breathed into this historic aviation asset. And I would also like to thank our two dedicated local MPs, Sir Roger Gale and Craig Mackinlay, as well as the thousands of supporters who have supported us from the start of the DCO process and have long shared our bold and ambitious vision for the airport.”
Speaking to ITV Meridian, Thanet North MP Sir Roger Gale added, “I had hoped that we would have wheels on tarmac by now. It’s taken this long to get the decision, and it will take longer to do the necessary works, to completely refurbish the airport.
“We’ve got the opportunity now to build effectively from scratch on a brownfield site a state of the art, eco-friendly zero carbon airport. That’s what we’re aiming for. This will be a world beater – a world leader.”
Surveys, detailed master planning and design work will start in the next few weeks. Construction will begin later next year, with the Airport operating its first cargo services in early 2025.
After more than five years of detailed scrutiny, RSP is delighted to confirm that it has finally received the redetermined Development Consent Order, from the @transportgovuk, for its plans to invest up to £500 million in Manston Airport, in Kent. https://t.co/KGhTm9nyB8
— RSP Manston (@RSPManston) August 18, 2022
