Airport development plan to create 21,300 jobs by 2043

FOUR SITES AROUND EMA IDENTIFIED AS OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW CARGO OPERATION

- By JOSHUA HARTLEY

EAST Midlands Airport has announced a major development plan that could generate more than 20,000 jobs and billions of pounds by building around its runway.

Bosses at the Castle Donington airport have said the development of 50 hectares of land around its runway could support 21,300 jobs by 2043.

Four airport sites have been earmarked for development, including some that will be part of the East Midlands Freeport - the airport is one of three areas in the region where businesses are offered major tax discounts to set up.

Steve Griffiths, managing director of East Midlands Airport (EMA), said the possible schemes could help meet a predicted 54 per cent growth in demand for its “unrivalled” cargo services.