There is currently no plan to extend the runway up to 2015. The Government White Paper on regional aviation indicates that the present terminal, without modification, can handle 8.5 million passengers. The White Paper envisaged once this limit had been passed a new terminal and runway extension would be required. This is not a view shared by the airport. Their view is that there is limited scope for long-haul destinations up to 2015. Dubai was the most likely new destination at the time of the Master Plan. The 787 is seen as the answer to the runway restriction because of that aircraft's improved takeoff performance, however the taxiway parallel to the golf course would have to be widened. The issue of extension was looked at in the Mater Plan. A start strip would mean an extra 389m on 27, but only 150m on 09. The maximum extension keeping the ILS inside the boundary is 140m, beyond this length the ILS has to go on the common. The maximum full extension is roughly 400m. This would go way out onto the common and involve the purchase of property rendered uninhabitable. A 400m extension would allow for destinations such as Chicago, the Caribbean and Atlanta to be served on stop. It adds about 2000km to the range of a 757 and 1000km to a 767. An extension of any kind falls outside of permitted or operational development and would require full planning permission. In addition Felton Common is a protected environmental habitat! I think the master plan is now largely irrelevant. The new proposed walkway was not in the plan and airport operations have changed considerably since it's drafting, for example BA has now left and Ryanair is in. Airbridges were proposed in the master plan and they are not contained in the plan for the walkway, because they are luxuries not required by the lo-co's. The more recent developments suggest larger lo-cost aircraft will be the mainstay of movements. Look at Luton were Kehoe came from. This probably gives a good pointer as to the direction of development.