Thanet Greens "In Principle" Support of Former Airport Development



SHP's Ray Mallon with Thanet Greens Tricia Hartley, Derek Heptinstall and Ian Driver

Following meetings with the owners of the former Manston Airport Thanet Green Party have announced their “in principle support” for plans to  transform  the site into a mixed  residential, leisure and commercial  development. It is understood that outline plans will be submitted in April and will be subject to public consultation during the summer.

Thanet Greens believe that the re-development of the former airport site is a “once in a generation opportunity”  to kick start Thanet’s ailing economy by attracting significant inward investment into the District, creating thousands of desperately needed high-quality jobs, and business and training  opportunities for local people.

In a document submitted to the airport owners (see below) Thanet Greens also stress the importance of ensuring that the development is sustainable and environmentally friendly including measures such as

• connecting the site  to the rest of  Thanet through improved public transport links, walking and cycling routes and that charging points are installed around the site for electric vehicles
• ensuring buildings on the site meet the highest sustainability standards including solar PVC panels, the use of environmentally-friendly building materials, high levels of insulation, water re-use  and energy micro-generation technologies and LED lighting.
• providing nature areas  and community allotments on the site  

The Greens have also called on the owners to use the site to promote and provide leisure and sporting opportunities for  the people of Thanet such as a modern state of the art skate park for young people and an open-air theatre.

Former TDC councillor, Ian Driver, who attended the meetings with the airport owners said “I got the  impression that they took  our  concerns very seriously and that they want to build a development which is sustainable and respects Thanet’s environment. I think there is a unique  opportunity  for Stone Hill Park to come up with plans which will set new , ground  breaking standards for large scale mixed developments in the UK. We are happy to support the plans but that  doesn’t mean that we will be uncritical cheerleaders if the detailed plans are not good enough”.

More information contact Ian Driver 07866588766