The consortium trying to re-open Manston as a cargo airport have been told they have not provided enough information to support their case that it is a nationally significant project.

RiverOak Strategic Partners unexpectedly withdrew an application to the planning inspectorate for what is known as a Development Consent Order (DCO) last week.

The DCO can only be granted if a case is accepted that it is of national significance.

It has now emerged the planning inspectorate told RSP that its application - consisting of more than 60 separate documents - lacked enough information to back the case.

In response to a query lodged on its website about the application, the inspectorate said there was “an absence of sufficient information within the application documents” to base a decision.

The company was also told there were “gaps in the ecological, archaeological and ground investigation survey data...which create uncertainty in the assessment of likely significant effects.”

Planners also highlighted “inconsistencies and omissions in the noise and vibration assessment” and said there was not enough information about the impact of traffic and questioned the funding statement.

The revelations suggest questions around the DCO are more extensive than had initially been indicated.

RiverOak held a meeting with planning officials last Friday to discuss what additional information was required. After that meeting, it tweeted:

“Inspector clarified all the points. We will be providing all the information required in the next couple of weeks, followed by a further meeting and resubmission.”

However, that has failed to convince those who have questioned the viability of RiverOak’s plans.

The former Ukip leader of Thanet council Chris Wells said the planning inspectorate had highlighted “ the blindingly obvious flaws in this application.”

He said: “Surely now we can all put this amateur application behind us and move on.”

There was also concern expressed by the Thanet independent councillors group - made up chiefly of former Ukip members - which said the disclosures were ominous.

Cllr Stuart Driver said the ruling Conservative administration, which took control of the council in February, should be looking for other investors.

“Investors are lining up to be given the chance to re-open the site with a modern facility servicing new areas of the aviation sector to meet the demands of Britain after Brexit.”

“We put the details of these investors to the new council leader back in March but we have had no response or indication of real interest. They seem to be relying on the DCO as the only option and the revelation this week that it has been withdrawn for now, seems more than a little ominous. We are calling for immediate engagement with serious investors.”

Meanwhile, the owners of the site have formally submitted details of its plans for the site that centre on a mixed-use development featuring up to 3,700 homes and 46,000 sq metres of office space which they claim will transform the area.