New deal set to bring added certainty to Doncaster Sheffield Airport

South Yorkshire’s Mayor and leaders are set to approve a landmark deal to bring Doncaster Sheffield Airport and the surrounding land at GatewayEast into public ownership, subject to the conclusion of an agreement between South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), City of Doncaster Council (CDC) and Peel Land.

The proposals, which are subject to formal approval at the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board on 27 October, and agreement by the Board of Developers Peel, would see South Yorkshire MCA buy the airport and adjacent Innovation Quarter employment land.

Should that deal go through, it will mark a major milestone in the region's progress towards reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport and the realisation of the wider South Yorkshire Airport City vision, set to create one of the UK's leading hubs for sustainable aviation, advanced manufacturing and innovation.

If approved by both Boards, the purchase would provide the long-term control, certainty and flexibility needed to unlock one of the most significant economic opportunities in South Yorkshire, helping create thousands of good jobs, attract significant private investment and support the development of a world-leading hub for sustainable aviation and innovation.

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.”

Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones said: “Fully reopening this airport is my number one priority and with the backing and support of South Yorkshire this deal will make that become a reality.

“This is the right option for the airport – to get it into public ownership and reopened as soon as possible. This is ambitious and the partnership with SYMCA builds on the strong foundations we have built up over the past four years, a foundation upon which we can build together as a team.

“In Doncaster, we have worked hard to get the preparations ready, in relation to airspace certification and airfield readiness, getting key staff in place and importantly keeping those critical conversations with airlines, businesses and support services going. More will be shared when the time is right. Our communities have cheered us on throughout as well as local businesses and campaigners and I would like to thank them for their faith in this airport. This deal presents an amazing opportunity to get the people’s airport open again. I look forward to discussing this further next week.”

Doncaster Sheffield Airport closed in November 2022, leaving South Yorkshire one of the largest city regions without a commercial aviation presence and creating significant uncertainty about the future of the site.

Since then, SYMCA, City of Doncaster Council, local MPs, Government and other partners have worked together to develop plans to bring aviation back to the region.

Meanwhile, teams at the airport have been working at pace to realise the airport's potential as soon as is practical. This has included the recruitment of senior aviation leaders as heads of department, progressing important regulatory milestones, such as the Airspace Change Proposals, and making procurement decisions on various technology and equipment that will ensure the airport can operate effectively, for example fire tenders and a new radar system.

Over the last 12 months, negotiations have continued with Peel Land to explore options for the future of the airport and Innovation Quarter. Those discussions have now concluded, resulting in an agreement that will be presented to South Yorkshire leaders for consideration later this month.

Freight services are planned to return from Autumn 2027, with passenger services returning Spring 2028, subject to the completion of the regulatory and operational work required to reopen the airport.

Stephen Wild, Managing Director of Peel Land said: “There has been significant collaboration, and we continue to work closely with our partners at the City of Doncaster Council and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to achieve the wider vision.”

The project is not without risk to the taxpayer given the sums of public funding involved, however, the report recommends the approval of the project. Approval would see SYMCA become the freehold owner and landlord to the CDC lease.

South Yorkshire leaders will consider the proposals at the SYMCA Board meeting at 3.30pm on Tuesday 27 October. Further information is available on the South Yorkshire Board papers here: South Yorkshire MCA

City of Doncaster Council will also consider the proposals at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on 21 October.