Leofric
Surely the point is that Howard Holdings have spent a lot of money pretty well proving that this site cannot be run as a successful passenger airport.
There is no such thing as a lease which can't be varied given time and persuasive lawyers and the fact is, the present leaseholders are in prime position as potential developers if planning permission can be obtained.
I reckon the councils with an interest in the area wouldn't fight too hard now against efforts to turn the land to mixed development use.