I think we will have to wait a while yet to see if the planning consent turns into bricks and mortar development. Some of us are old enough to recall the Gazette headlines trumpeting 11000 new jobs when Moorfield Semley submitted a similar planning application for an airport related development on the Southside, and of course the skeleton of the ill fated hotel scheme is still rusting away by the side of the defunct railway halt. My guess is that the new owners are pinning their hopes for a quick return on the proposed office business park at Middleton St George to release some real money for future investment. The problem with good old Teesside is that it has suffered far too much from hype and spin in recent years, a glance at the live departures /arrivals board on the airports website tells the real story (yes I know its winter and Globespan have yet to commence serious operations)
And you can't expect Peel Holdings to pay for ATCOs when there ain't any aeroplanes!