The original point made was that the two councils involved were acting contrarily, but they aren't and on this point the two cases aren't comparable.
The planning permission at MME is for aviation-related development, so is linked to the development of the airport. In my own view, Peel would be quite happy for the airport to prosper, so long as they don't have to spend to much to make it happen, as it will make their development plans easier to pursue because of the goodwill it will generate for them locally. If it doesn't, they'll use smoke and mirrors to lay the blame elsewhere and then persuade the local authorities they've done everything they can and get the aviation related restrictions lifted.
At MME there is nothing in the public domain yet that evidentially ties the proposed investment into development of the actual airport facility and function.
From the DTVA website:
Media Centre*|*Press Releases*|*Airport submits funding bid for major development project
The ‘Southside’ project will take around ten years to complete and today Peter Nears, Strategic Planning Director for the Peel Group, stressed that, as well as delivering significant new employment, it would help to safeguard jobs at the airport.
He explained “There is planning consent for aviation-related employment in the Southside area and the proposal we have submitted to the Government would generate around 1,500 new jobs.
“This is a very significant project, not just for the airport, but the area as a whole and we have worked closed with the Tees Valley Unlimited Local Enterprise Partnership in the preparation of the bid. We are very pleased that it has the written support of the LEP and the Homes and Communities Agency, together with Stockton and Darlington Borough Councils.
“Since becoming the majority shareholder in the airport earlier this year we have made clear that it is vital for the future of Durham Tees Valley that we develop the full potential of the whole site and the funding we hope to gain through the Regional Growth Fund will enable us to provide a link between the existing airport activities on the north side of the runway and the new employment land to the south.
“Whilst there are a wide range of possibilities for attracting businesses related to aviation activities, we expect that a key element in the development will be logistics services, given the proximity to the A66 , leading to the A1 and the national motorway network.”
In the case of CAX, I think the council would like to grant permission in case Stobart's follow through with their threat to move out of the county completely. However, the case for development is so flawed it looks difficult for them to do this legally.