South Yorkshire’s strategic plan to revive Doncaster-Sheffield Airport (DSA) aims for operational readiness by spring 2026.
- The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (Symca) Board will decide on additional funding for the project on 12 November 2024.
- A 125-year lease has been secured with Peel, the site owners, to facilitate the reopening of the airport.
- The project anticipates significant economic benefits, including 5,000 jobs and a £6.6bn economic boost.
- The initiative is part of a broader vision to establish a sustainable aviation hub in the region.
South Yorkshire is taking concrete steps towards the ambitious revival of Doncaster-Sheffield Airport (DSA), planning to reopen it for commercial flights by spring 2026. Regional leaders are set to assess a crucial business case for the South Yorkshire Airport City project, which marks a significant milestone in the region’s development strategy. The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (Symca) Board, under Mayor Oliver Coppard’s leadership, will make a pivotal decision on 12 November 2024 concerning a potential allocation of an additional £3 million to the City of Doncaster Council. This funding is intended to support the airport’s restoration and advance commercial agreements imperative for the project’s fruition.
Significant progress has been achieved since the Board reviewed the Outline Business Case in February 2024. The City of Doncaster Council has successfully obtained a 125-year lease with Peel, owners of the DSA site, marking a major step forward. Additionally, a procurement process has identified a credible international airport operator as the preferred bidder, though the operator’s identity remains undisclosed. The South Yorkshire Airport City scheme not only aims to reopen the airport but also envisions a decade-long project fostering regional growth, anchored by the airport at the Gateway East site.
This initiative builds on South Yorkshire’s position as the UK’s first Investment Zone focusing on advanced manufacturing and sustainable aviation. Prominent companies such as McLaren, Boeing, Rolls-Royce, and Hybrid Air Vehicles have already invested in the area, enhancing its reputation as an industrial hub. The project offers a particularly optimistic forecast, projecting the creation of 5,000 direct jobs, an economic uplift of £6.6 billion, and a benefit-cost ratio of 9:1. This highlights the substantial returns expected for both investors and the local community.
There are still several key milestones to achieve before passenger flight operations can resume, which includes ongoing negotiations regarding the extent of public control and investment. Upon finalising an agreement on the business case, there is potential for £138 million to be directed towards supporting Doncaster’s Place Investment Plan, potentially establishing a forefront sustainable aviation hub. The Symca Board is anticipated to complete its evaluation following input from the government’s Subsidy Advice Unit, with comprehensive conclusions expected by early the following year.
Mayor Oliver Coppard has expressed his unwavering commitment to reopening the airport, emphasising that substantial investments, alongside securing a contract with the appropriate operator, are essential to restoring South Yorkshire’s airport operations. Similarly, Doncaster’s Mayor Ros Jones heralds the initiative as a significant advancement toward the airport’s reopening, with aspirations extending beyond airport operations to establish a hub for the sustainable aviation industry. The South Yorkshire Airport City programme holds promise for bolstering employment and prosperity throughout Doncaster and the wider region.
The future of Doncaster-Sheffield Airport is firmly on track, with regional leaders committed to its successful reopening and development as a sustainable aviation hub.
