A new landmark deal will see South Yorkshire’s Mayor approve a plan to bring Doncaster Sheffield Airport and the adjacent Innovation Quarter employment land site into public ownership.
The deal, which is subject to subject to the conclusion of an agreement between South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), City of Doncaster Council (CDC) and Peel Land, would see South Yorkshire MCA purchase both the airport itself and all adjacent Innovation Quarter employment land.
Should the deal be concluded successfully; the move will mark a major milestone in the region’s overall progress towards the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, as well as the realisation of the wider South Yorkshire Airport City vision, which seeks to create one of the UK’s leading hubs for sustainable aviation, advanced manufacturing and innovation.
If approved, the purchase is anticipated to all provide long-term control, certainty and flexibility necessary to unlock one of the most significant economic opportunities in South Yorkshire, creating thousands of jobs, attracting private investment and supporting the airport’s development in the process.
South Yorkshire's Mayor Oliver Coppard said:I’m delighted to say that subject to formal approval of the MCA Board next week and then Peel, we’ve agreed a deal that means we’re taking Doncaster Sheffield Airport and adjacent Innovation Quarter employment land into public ownership. This is a deal that puts the future of DSA back in our hands and finally gives one of the biggest and best growth opportunities in South Yorkshire the platform for long-term success that it needs and deserves.
Four years ago, we were told that our airport would be closing. But alongside Ros Jones, I said I would do anything I could to save DSA, and I meant it.
Which is why after months of negotiations and the growing flexibility afforded to us by the government’s devolution agenda, today we can announce that we have come to an agreement for SYMCA to buy the airport and Innovation Quarter employment land from Peel.
Subject to the agreement of the MCA Board next week, the airport and surrounding Innovation Quarter employment land will be owned and controlled by us, for us; the people of South Yorkshire. This deal means our future will be in our own hands again.
When the airport closed, almost everything was against us; the owners did not want to sell, we had no legal powers to intervene or stop the airport from closing, and no backing from the government at the time. Today, the future for DSA is bright, with the airport back in our hands, the sky’s the limit.
Having closed in November 2022, SYMCA, City of Doncaster Council, local MPs, Government and other partners have worked together to develop plans to bring aviation back to the region. Recent works have seen teams work to realise the airport’s potential as soon as possible, with recent efforts including the recruitment of senior aviation leaders as heads of department, air traffic hiring, the progression of important regulatory milestones, such as the Airspace Change Proposals, and the confirmation of procurement decisions on various technology and equipment that will ensure the airport can operate effectively.
The last 12 months have seen extensive negotiations continue with Peel Land to explore options for the future of the airport and Innovation Quarter, and, with these discussions now concluded, an agreement is set to be presented to South Yorkshire leaders for consideration later this month.
Freight services are scheduled to return at the airport from Autumn 2027, with passenger services set to resume Spring 2028 – subject to the completion of the regulatory and operational work required to reopen the airport.
South Yorkshire leaders will consider ownership proposals at the SYMCA Board meeting at 15:30 on Tuesday 27 October, and further information is available in the SYMCA Board Papers.
City of Doncaster Council will also consider the proposals at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on 21 October.
