Housing
Although I enjoy flying from the airport it doesn't bring a whole lot to the area economy wise.
What is of critical value and many seem to ignore, is the fact that in order to allow any of our children or grandchildren to buy a house, we will need tens of millions of new homes. Sites like this are ideal for a development opportunity and should be welcomed as such, houses and people will bring more prosperity to the area than continuing to support a failed local airfield.