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Manston Airport hearings for RiverOak development consent order (DCO) application taking place this week

Funding arrangements of the firm hoping to reopen Manston Airport will be put under the spotlight by government inspectors this week.

The Planning Inspectorate is hosting its latest round of events to assess whether to allow an application for RiverOak Strategic Partners (RSP) to compulsory purchase the site.

The company want to buy the land from developers to build a cargo airport in Thanet.

Former Manston airport (7900696)
Former Manston airport (7900696)

This week's public hearings are investigating a range of issues relating to the application: RSP's financial and funding proposals, socio-economic, bio-diversity and environmental matters, traffic and transport, designs, landscaping and the impact on heritage and the draft DCO document.

Inspectors appointed by the government will hold six hearings at Discovery Park in Sandwich exploring the different aspects of the application.

The first hearing takes place on Monday afternoon investigating the landscape and designs.

The question of RSP's finances for the bid - which have been hotly contested by residents and opponents to reopening the airport - will be considered on Tuesday morning.

The Planning Inspectorate hearings will go towards deciding whether to allow the airport to reopen
The Planning Inspectorate hearings will go towards deciding whether to allow the airport to reopen

The environmental impact is on the agenda for Wednesday's hearing while traffic and transport will be discussed on Thursday.

The hearings will conclude with considering of the proposed draft DCO document published by inspectors last month should the order be granted.

All the hearings will take place in the Laurence Suite, Building 500 at Discovery Park in Sandwich.

The timings for each hearing are as follows:

  • Monday, June 3 at 2pm - Landscape, design, archaeology and heritage
  • Tuesday, June 4 at 10am - Compulsory Acquisition Hearing
  • Wednesday, June 5 at 10am - Socio-economics
  • Wednesday, June 5 at 2pm - Habitats Regulations Assessment, biodiversity and other environmental issues
  • Thursday, June 6 at 10am - Traffic and transport
  • Friday, June 7 at 10am - Draft Development Consent Order

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