The local press has announced that "business leaders" are bidding for government cash to create the Southampton Gateway Enterprise Zone adjacent to the northeast corner of the airport and the former Ford's site.
Hopefully the new airport owners (unlike their predecessors) will have some long term airport development plan in mind and not, if the cash is forthcoming, permit the building of a surface level road (necessary to access the northeast site, which they probably took on when buying the airport) between the airport boundary and the rail yard. Unless this road goes into a tunnel, the possibility of runway development to the north, which of course is the only way that it could go, will be removed.
A tunnel is not going to be a cheap option as a major gas pipeline runs through the same area, and will probably need diverting.
Provision of the road will of course open up the chance of east side airport development, hopefully not just more car parks!
Time will tell if the new owners are serious about future airport development.