Negotiations to secure an investor to relaunch Doncaster Sheffield Airport are set to commence on Monday after a report confirmed its financial viability
Mayor Ros Jones of Doncaster announced that the city council’s cabinet had unanimously endorsed the idea of reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) at an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday (20th September).
She emphasized that the goal was to identify an investor willing to establish a leasehold agreement with the site’s owner, allowing them to manage the airport for a period of 100 years.
DSA had ceased operations in 2022, following a declaration from its owner, the Peel Group, that it was no longer financially sustainable.
CDC’s Cabinet has supported a wide range of work that has been underway during the last year and critically into 2023, to find a solution to reopening the site which could unlock millions of pounds worth of investment and jobs.
South Yorkshire Airport City (SYAC) is the name of the programme to reopen the airport and to develop a cluster of high value economic activity on the site including employment, retail and leisure as well as returning planes to the sky.
“Re-opening Doncaster Sheffield Airport is my number one priority, “said Mayor Ros Jones, “Finding a solution that would mean so much to local communities and businesses and underline our ambition as one of the UK’s newest cities is crucial.
“We are hopeful that a lease can be secured and look forward to working with interested parties in the reopening the airport. We have already initially tested the market for those industry experts who can partner with us to get the airport reopened as soon as we can. If we get the lease agreed then reopening the airport will not happen overnight of course but it would be a huge step forward. Cabinet was certainly reassured by the tremendous amount of hard work that has happened to date and I would like to thank council staff who have been dedicated to the South Yorkshire City Airport (SYAC) programme and their work continues.”
“I do hope that we can share good news soon and continue the journey to reopen our airport.”
Cabinet supported the recommendations to put in place the arrangements to sign a lease if it is agreed as well as other requirements including potential funding support.
It also heard that reopening the airport would not only restore international connectivity for Doncaster and South Yorkshire, which is currently the biggest City Region in Europe without an airport, but also be a catalyst for economic growth.
