Looking for good news…

Following a tweet from my friend Su Butcher, I started looking for good news in Essex. I couldn’t think of any on Friday and I couldn’t think of any news relating to property! Ok, I could have found oodles regarding property prices but I don’t think that’s what she was after.

Image via Wikipedia

Then yesterday thinking about something else entirely, I recalled there is some good property news in Essex. The Stobart Group have bought Southend (pronounced Sarfend in Thames Estuary speak ) Airport for just £21 million. The original asking price was in the region of £55 million, so Stobarts got a bargain.

Or have they? Some of the local groups say the airport is highly subsidised by the local authorities and is yet to be in a positions to make money, so lets hope some investment is going to take place. There are plans in place for a rail terminal, why there wasn’t one sooner I have no idea. More short haul flights are planned too which will bring more business into the Essex area.

Personally I don’t believe there is an intention to rival Stansted, but things could go that way. Today there were huge delays due to protests about Climate Change at Stansted. The Stobart group and their team need to manage the sustainability of the airport carefully. The need to win ‘the hearts and minds’ of the local people, and use local contractors where possible. The airport by its very nature isn’t going to be very green, but it could be the greenest airport in the UK with some forward thinking.

What do you think? Is Stobarts taking over Southend airport a good thing?

Sarah

Business Networking in Essex

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