Experts have concluded there is no possible way Plymouth airport can reopen.

The city council had hoped the travel hub could be revived by the private sector, after it closed in December 2011. However, two new studies from have outlined a raft of economic, physical and legislative barriers that have scuppered the plans.

Research found that not one of the five pilots set by the local authority have been met and the reports found that the project would suffer significant startup costs if it was to get off the ground. On top of this, any new development would first have to demolish around 90 homes and business premises currently standing in the way.

Alex Lake, managing director at aviation expert Fjori, commented: "The site's constraints are simply incompatible with today's airline industry, which is why no credible proposal has come forward."

The only organisation that showed its interest was the campaign group Viable. It, however, did not publish any form of business plan, nor explain how it would function without public subsidy.