The Court of Appeal has dismissed an application from Miss J Dawes to appeal against the decision granting a Development Consent Order (DCO) for Manston Airport. This ruling clears the way for work to begin reopening the airport as a cargo hub.

On May 21, 2024, Lord Justice Jackson, Lord Justice Lewis and Lord Justice Warby published their decision denying Miss Dawes' appeal. Their judgment upholds the DCO granted by the Department for Transport in August 2022.

With the appeal dismissed, the DCO decision allowing the redevelopment of Manston Airport remains in force. The airport owners, RSP, can now proceed with plans to reopen and operate the airport for cargo flights.

Tony Freudmann, Director of RSP, expressed relief at the conclusion of the seven-year planning process involving considerable public and private expenditure. He thanked local supporters for backing the redevelopment plans.

Tony said: “We have always remained confident in our proposals and unshaken in our belief that we can create something very special at Manston which delivers both important capacity for UK air freight – and a sustainable economic boost for East Kent. It’s time to turn our plans into reality.”

Manston Airport closed over ten years ago in 2014. The reopening project can now move forward with construction and hiring for both the building phase and eventual airport operations.

“We can now deliver our plans knowing with certainty that we have demonstrated, beyond question, that Manston has a vital role to play in addressing the airspace capacity issues blighting London and Southeast – and that this historic and strategically important airport can reinvent itself once again to meet the nation’s needs in the global marketplace,” added Tony.

It is estimated that detailed planning, construction, recruitment and the completion of the airspace change project will now take three years in total to complete – with the airport ready to receive flights in 2027.