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Thanet District Council still working with Manston airport developer

Thanet District Council is working with a Manston airport developer to "resolve issues".

Leader Cllr Bob Bayford said the authority is continuing talks with RiverOak Strategic Partners (RSP) to address concerns about their multi-million pound plans to reopen the airport, four years after it closed.

RSP has applied for a development consent order with the planning inspectorate which, if approved, would mean the consortium would acquire the site for the nationally important infrastructure project.

The site of Manston Airport
The site of Manston Airport

However, the owners of the land, Stone Hill Park Limited, have applied for an opposing application with 4,000 homes, a sports village, business park and the runway would host heritage attractions.

Former Labour councillor David Green asked the leader for an update about the plans and how the council are "engaging" with RSP.

He enquired whether the council and relevant bodies had written a document listing what are their agreements and disagreements, called a statement of common grounds.

Mr Green also asked whether the council has written a local impact report and whether the developer would be required to make contributions through a section 106 order.

He said: "Highways England, Historic England, Natural England, Public Health England, Kent County Council, Canterbury City Council, and 1,100 Thanet residents, have registered concerns regarding RiverOak Strategic Partnership's development consent order application.

"Could he [Cllr Bob Bayford] detail how the council has engaged the applicant to produce a statement of common grounds and a local impact report, what issues have been discussed, and included in a section 106 agreement?"

Cllr Bayford said the council is "engaging with" the applicant but the final decision will be made by the planning inspectorate about any contributions if the project is granted.

He added the issues raised by the council are available on the planning inspectorate website.

Main issues include impact on the highways, air quality, noise and health and wellbeing of local residents if the plans were approved.

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