A former airport near Ramsgate in Kent may be turned into a film studio, creating over 1,000 jobs.

Manston airport – formerly RAF Manston – in Thanet closed around a year ago but since then several campaign groups and lobbyists have been vocal in their support to keep it open as an operational transport hub.  

Last autumn however, businessmen Trevor Cartner and Chris Musgrave acquired a majority stake in Manston, which they re-christened Stone Hill Park.

Although the £1bn plans for the site include 2,500 homes as well as an Olympic-sized swimming pool, various leisure facilities, and a heritage grass runway with vintage aircraft, it seems that a film production studio is also very much in the pipeline for the development.

Discussions are at an early stage, but according to Kent Business, Cartner has already met representatives of a consortium looking for a film studio location; the identity of the consortium is expected to be revealed shortly.

We look forward to hearing more about the proposal as it unfolds; there is certainly the demand for new facilities as the UK has never been busier in terms of film and TV production.