Actually I think you'll find the future is rather bright at Plymouth!
The local media seem to have got the wrong end of the stick. Lots of comment about property development on the airfield - but the facts are that there is some potential property development on the southern end of the airfield, which in no way conflicts with the operation of the airport. A fact that is rather endorsed by Air Southwest (also owned by Sutton Harbour) doubling the number of destinations from Plymouth this year with new flights to Glasgow, Newcastle, Cork, Dublin and Chambery.
The extensive local marketing of the new flights is causing a lot of interest locally, and would suggest that the Sutton Harbour parent company has a strong commitment to developing flights from the airport in tandem with its property interests. A pretty shrewd commercial approach I reckon.