I really hope that Manston can start agains as a operating airport. However from a licensing side the airport has been closed for a while and likely to be so for a while longer. Therefore the airfield, would in effect be a 'greenfield' start up and would need to meet all the current airport operating regulations. Any 'grandfather' rights that were utilised before would be null and void. This is likely to be a long, painful and expensive business. Whilst the Secretary of State may wish to implement the the airfield licence that fact remains that CAA SARG will need to be satisfied that the airfield has meet all the current regulations before issuing said license.