Mmmmm, realistic options for relocation of the MRO (hangar-based) activities could include, in no particular order. Assumes there is no reason a whole lot of the non-hangar operations couldn't stay in Cambridge - why move all of that? They propose a 5m sq.ft. business park - a pile of that could be still occupied by themselves - majority of staff need offices/workshops/stores rather than hangars. Where today they have 1.5m sq.ft. of hangars, by say 2025, they won't need a lot of that (UK Hercs phased out for example), so they almost certainly can downsize, then if there's space around the new site, build more as and when required.:
1) Duxford - forget it, no infrastructure, no space and unless someone's buying up a load of peripheral land, tiny runway
2) Cranfield - realistic option, have someone else take the burden of the costs of running the airport side. Just got outline planning for a massive air park, airport underwritten by University, in turn underwritten by loads of grants, because they're a University. Downside, runway still not so long (although plan for slight extension), long commute for ex-CBG employees - there will be some attrition as consequence.
3) Wyton - yes, BUT - frightening costs to reinstate, frightening costs to upgrade, frightening costs to keep operational, hangars inappropriate position and configuration/size so need to build new from scratch. Why on earth bear the costs of running an airport again? Go and get a long ground lease at another party's airport
4) Mildenhall - if Wyton, why not Mildenhall? Scary costs and vague as to when USAF actually vacate - 2023, 2025?
5) Alconbury - already gone to developer, but if starting from scratch, is there a deal to be done there? Hideous costs to reactivate and then run.
6) Stansted - buy the Diamond Hangar - or lease for 99 years, expand to east and west past the Ryanair hangars - loads of space. However, slots an issue, but demand/throughput would be very little, so not really an issue actually. 24 Hrs access, half an hour down the road - civil airliner market on doorstep to compliment what might be diminishing military base work.
7) Brize Norton - go where the main customer is, challenges no doubt politically and red-tape-wise, but why not? Will lose a pile of staff, but how many will they ultimately need for ongoing hangarage ops in the next decade?
8) Buy ex-Monarch sheds at Birmingham and expand behind/sideways - 24 hr ops, no slot issues, massive runway. Again, will lose a load of staff who won't migrate.
9) Go to Wales (St Athan, Cardiff, Hawarden or Cornwall (Newquay) - huge development agency subsidies and incentives, cheap deals, but huge loss of staff and miles from customer base
Thing is, after developing the Cambridge site, there will be gazillions floating in the coffers, so the family will be able to reinvest for the very long term on virtually any scale deemed appropriate. Question is what would you do if it was your family business, your money and your long-term investment strategy? They like asset-based rather than revenue based.
All above considered, they will feel a very strong need and obligation to look after staff relatively locally