Indeed,
Fairdealfrank! The answer being: fabulously large amounts of
£££
The court case that would try to resolve the compulsory purchase of LHR, lock, stock and two smoking runways is beyond words. It would be:
- the nationalisation of the airport.
- the redevelopment by the govt.
- the selling off to try and get the money back.
Would someone like to nominate a successful example of the UK govt doing this in the post war era??
Remain unconvinced that they would sell: a choice between one-off cash or continuing dividends long term. Selling kills off the goose that lays the golden egg over and over again.
Do they have an idea how profitable LHR is? Who on earth has the required amounts of money to buy it for non-airport use?
Re. 1 and 2, how would a government justify that use of public money and expect to be re-elected?
Re. 3, would it be like the nationalisation and potential resale of the Royal Bank Of Scotland and the others?
Governments don't do nationalisation any more. When or if this changes, there are many other priorities for public ownership.
Of course you mentioned court cases, the litigation would go on for years, making the lawyers very rich.
It is not only LHR (closure required to make the estuary airport viable), but also LCY, MSE, SEN and possibly STN (closure required for air traffic congestion reasons) that would be in court.
As mentioned above, a return to the real world would be very welcome.