Thanet District Council 'closer to Manston airport purchase'

Redevelopment plans include parkland with the former runway as a centrepiece

Thanet District Council has said it will seek specialist legal and financial advice about issuing a compulsory purchase order (CPO) for the Manston airport site.

In December the council decided against issuing a CPO, despite a campaign to save the airport.

However, the council's cabinet agreed to revisit the decision at a meeting on Tuesday evening.

The airport's owners have said they will fight any CPO.

The council said the advice it is seeking will determine whether a US company, RiverOak, is a suitable indemnity partner during the CPO process.

New plans

The airport closed in May 2014 with the loss of 150 jobs.

Two men, Trevor Cartner and Chris Musgrave, hold the majority stake in the site. In April they revealed plans to use the former airport for housing, commercial premises and leisure activities.