The new tower and runway extension make NATS the best solution imho. !
Why? Would all other qualified UK ATCOs struggle with a new tower AND a runway extension?
It's about time that ATC positions at the busier UK airports became available to those of us who don't already work for NATS. Ab initio trainees get far more of a chance than qualified and experienced non-NATS ATCOs at the moment.
NATS produces the best controllers
So NATS people keep saying, but it's not what I've found...