AN AIRPORT at Cliffe would provide enormous jobs benefits if it was approved by the Government, according to one of the most influential businessmen in the region.

Nigel Bourne, the director of the Confederation for British Industry's South East office, told local council leaders, developers and business heads it presented a once-in-a-lifetime economic driver to transform north Kent.

"It will create jobs and wealth in the region which are just as important as its effect on those who live in the area that it is built," he told the Thames Gateway Kent Partnership.

"Cliffe should be looked at as a serious option. Of course, there will be problems, but they should be looked at alongside the benefits that an airport could bring."

He said there was a danger that the UK would be left behind by new hub airports being built, or being expanded, in Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris. But he also criticised the Government's decision to exclude any airport expansion at Gatwick until 2019.

The CBI has yet to decide which of the airport plans it supports. But Mr Bourne said Cliffe would be a major catalyst for direct and indirect employment.

It would boost the area's economic prospects, restore the balance lost to the west of London by the Heathrow factor and would attract private investment into the area.

Sir Graeme Odgers, former chairman of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, said an airport would be a major stimulus to jobs and inward investment and attract overseas investors.It would help developments towards Maidstone and the east Kent areas and transform the Gateway.

But he added: "You would have to tear up the existing plan to redevelop the area and replace it."

However, he said that economically the development came "a very poor third" to adding runways to Stansted or Heathrow. He forecast that the partnership would then need to make a strong case to push ahead its development and improvement plans.