Doncaster Sheffield Airport owner refutes claims of credible buyer

The owner of Doncaster Sheffield Airport says it is no longer financially viable

The owner of a closure-threatened airport has refuted claims it was in talks with a credible buyer.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) is due to close on Friday after Peel Group said it was no longer financially viable.

The BBC had understood the owner was in talks with a bidder about a significant offer for the site.

The owner said it was "currently not in possession of what could be considered a credible offer".

A spokesperson for Peel said: "We have not been provided with the identity of the members of the proposed consortium.

"We also have no evidence as to the source or credibility of the interested party's funding.

"Our initial due diligence has raised some concerns regarding the identity of the bidder consortium's representatives which we have raised directly with Doncaster Council."

The group said it was "continuing to engage with all interested parties" that it had been introduced to by the council.

'Barriers'

The proposed closure has sparked anger and several demonstrations since the plans were announced in September.

Last month, an offer of public money to keep the airport operating into 2023 was rejected.

Responding to claims there is no "credible" offer Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and local MPs Nick Fletcher, Ed Miliband and Dame Rosie Winterton, issued a statement saying they are concerned Peel has no intention of selling the airport.

They said after carrying out a "pro-active investor search that Peel played no part in" it is "becoming increasingly clear that Peel do not want to sell or save DSA in any form, as they continue to put in place barriers to our efforts".

The group of cross-party politicians said despite Peel's previous claims they want to develop "a forward-thinking strategy for the airport site" they have seen "very little evidence of this".

Ms Jones has previously said if no agreement is reached on the airport's future, the council would initiate the process for a Compulsory Purchase Order, but said that would not save the airport as it would take up to two years and only buy the land.