This airport has been closed since 2014, but new £750m plans could see it reopen as a major cargo hub by 2029
Abandoned airport takes next step to finally reopen(Image: Vince Murray via Getty Images)
The disused Manston Airport in Kent could be back in operation by 2029 if fresh proposals get the green light. The airport, which shut its doors in 2014, is earmarked to reopen as a cargo hub before the decade is out.
Briefly utilised as a lorry park during the coronavirus lockdown, the site has otherwise lain dormant for the past 12 years. Since 2019, an investment firm has been working to get the facility up and running again.
RiverOak Strategic Partners (RSP) bought the airport for £16.5 million back in 2019, with an initial target to reopen by 2025, though this was delayed owing to escalating costs.
As RSP presses ahead with business development talks with airlines and freight operators, the planning process has now reached its third phase.
From Monday, March 16, to Monday, June 22, the public are being consulted on the proposed airspace modifications.
The suggested changes are being put before residents, local communities, and broader stakeholders.
Tony Freudmann, Director at RiverOak Strategic Partners, stated: “This consultation is an important step in our ambitions to reopen Manston Airport.
“[It’s] representing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver new runway capacity to support the UK air cargo market and to transform the economic landscape in east Kent.
“We know Manston holds a special place in the area’s history, we would encourage people to find out more about our proposal and provide any feedback they might have to help shape our plans.”
When the initial proposals for Manston were drafted, the projected cost stood at £400 million; however, this has since soared to £750 million.
It’s believed that once the redevelopment is finished, Manston will be capable of handling more than a million tonnes of freight annually.