ClickRich
I think that you'll find that Peter de Savery had sold on the southwest and northeast corners to Gazeley Developments. Indications are that BAA would not pay the asking price for the southwest corner, but a subsequent digging in (no pun intended) over the northeast east corner, by insisting that any road go through a tunnel, probably made the land near useless for development, as it couldn't be accessed.
Assume that BAA got the land at a knock down price when they finally bought it from Gazeley's.
Rumour has it that the lease on the Royal Mail building is up in a few years, and they want something bigger, Give them what they want on the east side of the airport, where Terminal 2 is intended, should then permit a terminal extension and additional stands where they should be, on the west side?
One can only hope that BAA may have another agenda, but are playing their cards close to their chest, not wanting to reveal an interest in land west of the runway, and pushing up the price. Sorry BAA!
If more parking stands are going to be required, looking at the alignment of the "Chickenhall Road link" (ie the southern Eastleigh bypass) west of the runway, if the Fire Station and Signature hangar were relocated east side, the current mini cargo building removed (east side?) and fuel farm modified by moving part of it northwards, it should provide another 5 stands, just what is needed by 2015.
If BAA could persuade the tenant of Hangar 1 to move (ie the heirs and sucessors of the original airport owner, ie Nat Somers), who BAA gave an almost indefinite lease to, in exchange for their original almost derelict hangar, which was in the now short term car park, job done. Parking stands and a short term car park (over the railway line and into their newly acquired allotment!) could release space to extend the current terminal. Could it be a lot cheaper than Terminal 2?