Maybe the council’s big mistake was actually selling the airport. At Luton the airport is still owned by the council but is leased as a concession and is run by a Spanish company. That company has to invest in the airport so it is win win for the council as someone else spends the money and the council cream off a fee for each passenger that investment attracts. If that was done instead of selling it Teeside could be a different place today.
By selling Tee-side the council have now lost control and an asset for the area which could be lost forever. Could they not see the value of the land? £500,000 for that much land could make Peel a fortune if sold for development.