“So much for the climate crisis!’ CPRE Kent responds to Manston approval

Shapps approves development of contentious Thanet site as a freight hub

Well, it’s surely now or never for Manston airport!

After a saga that made Game of Thrones appear little more than a two-minute trailer, the Thanet site’s “upgrade and reopening” has been backed by central government.

It was announced yesterday (Thursday, August 18) that RiverOak Strategic Partners, which is behind the plans for a freight hub, has had its Development Consent Order confirmed by Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Transport, who “is satisfied that there is a clear justification for authorising the development”.

The decision follows a redetermination of RSP’s application for the DCO after its previous approval had been quashed by the High Court after a judicial review launched by Jenny Dawes, chair of Ramsgate Coastal Community Team.

Although there is still the potential for another judicial review (and a CrowdJustice appeal has already been opened), there is widespread perception that the proposed development will now proceed, at least to some degree.

Hilary Newport, CPRE Kent director, said: “So much for the climate crisis! The decision makes a mockery of the Heathrow third-runway judgement, where the Court of Appeal ruled that proposals had not considered our country’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions.

“As with the previous determination, the developer could not demonstrate need, there were adverse impacts on traffic and transport and there were concerns over noise pollution.

“Further, the initial Examining Authority of four inspectors had recommended the Secretary of State refuse the DCO due to conservation of habitats and species regulations. For a second time, their clear and unambiguous conclusion has been thrown aside.”

The Thanet CPRE committee always refused to take a stance on Manston as it is such a divisive issue in the area, but chairman David Morrish said: “It is interesting to see the Secretary of State return to his true love and raison d’être of aviation by announcing that the reopening of Manston as a freight hub can proceed.

“The sad thing was that, like most things his department touches, yesterday’s link to the National Infrastructure website initially didn’t work and we Manston watchers had to wait for the evening’s local news on TV.

“As expected, RiverOak, which I understand owns the majority of the land at the airport, has been given the go-ahead to reopen Manston as a freight hub. What it means for Thanet is that the limitless supply of land wanted by Thanet planners for 17,000 new houses does not now include the Manston site.

“However, I suspect that for the hub to gain traction it might be necessary for a group of speculative developers to jump on board and help finance the project in an era when Heathrow and Gatwick management will be looking to airfreight to replace the plummeting passenger trade.

“Nevertheless, let us celebrate at least one landowner’s confidence in this site – even if it turns out to be a ghost train to help justify the new Thanet Parkway ghost station under construction.”

• The initial Manston DCO decision had by law to be made in the name of Mr Shapps, even though he had “not personally been involved” due statements of support he made prior to his appointment as Secretary of State, meaning the decision fell to Minister of State for Transport, Andrew Stephenson. Similarly, according to the Department for Transport, Mr Shapps “played no role in the redetermination of the decision” and it was carried out by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Karl McCartney.
• For more on this story, see here