Manston Airport £1bn redevelopment plan unveiled

Plans include parkland with the former runway as a centrepiece

A film production studio has been put forward as part of a £1bn redevelopment plan for Kent's former Manston Airport.

Chris Musgrave and Trevor Cartner who have bought a majority stake in the site have renamed it Stone Hill Park and set out their proposals over the next 20 years.

The plan include 2,500 homes, a sports village, and 200 acres of manufacturing units, with 4,000 jobs.

Campaigners are still fighting to keep the airport open.

Ray Mallon, a spokesman for the owners who spoke to protesters, said: "They told me they wanted an airport that was viable and it was the best thing for the public of Thanet and the area.

"My answer to them was simple. This airport has had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra."

Mr Cartner said the plans were "hugely exciting" and the site between London and Europe had "fantastic" infrastructure, with links to the capital and the ports.

Under the proposals, the former airport runway would become a centrepiece of a 200 acre park.

A syndicate building, a film studio to rival Pinewood is also being considered, BBC business correspondent Mark Norman said.

Campaigners protested as the plans were unveiled

'Compulsory purchase bid'

Wendy Fraser, from the Supporters of Manston Airport, said the airport had previously failed because it had aimed at the passenger market but campaigners believed it could succeed as a cargo airport.

The campaigners want Thanet council to buy the site under a compulsory purchase order so US investment firm RiverOak can reopen it as an airport.

Last month, Thanet council said it would look again at an earlier decision not to pursue a compulsory purchase order and UKIP leader Christopher Wells said a group of people wanted to see the airport reopen.

The cabinet will consider the issue after a government-commissioned report by PricewaterhouseCoopers has been published.