Doncaster Sheffield Airport could reopen as council agrees rescue plan

The airport was opened to passengers in 2005 and closed in 2022

Negotiations to find an investor to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) will begin on Monday after a report said it was financially viable.

Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones said the city council's cabinet had given their unanimous support to reopening DSA.

She said the authority aimed to find an investor that would create a leasehold agreement with the site's owner to run it for 100 years.

DSA closed in 2022 after owner Peel Group said it was financially unviable.

"Reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport is my number one priority," said Ms Jones.

Earlier this year, the council had tested the market with industry experts who could work with them to reopen DSA.

The authority will now negotiate with 15 interested parties to select one to work on leasing the site from Peel.

It will be one element of the council's South Yorkshire Airport City programme, which aims to create a cluster of economic activity based around the airport.

Plans include retail, leisure and logistics opportunities to create an estimated 16,500 new jobs.

Analysis by Spencer Stokes - BBC Look North transport correspondent

It's nearly a year now since the last flight took off from Doncaster Sheffield Airport and since then the council has been working on a plan to reopen the site to commercial air traffic.

A financial viability assessment has been carried out and City of Doncaster Council believes the airport could become profitable after five years. It says DSA could carry two million passengers after 10 years and support 5,000 direct jobs.

Under the plan outlined on Wednesday Peel Group, who closed the airport in November 2022, would retain ownership but lease it to the council.

The council would appoint an operator who would run it on its behalf.

So far 15 airport operators have come forward expressing interest and it's hoped one can be appointed in March 2024.

But there remain some large challenges; Peel Group still owns the site and hasn't agreed to lease it to Doncaster, and the council's financial assessment shows that a public subsidy would be needed.

This could come from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority budget, a government grant or the council's own borrowing.

South Yorkshire is the largest city region in Europe without a commercial airport. Wednesday's meeting sets out the first stages of the plan to bring aircraft back to Doncaster.

The council wants to reopen the airport

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Ms Jones said: "I am pleased to say that the report suggests we were right to have faith in the potential of the airport.

"Initial discussions with the market have also been positive and suggest there is substantial interest from potential operators.

"In addition, and importantly, discussions with the current landowners have led us to believe that there is a realistic chance of agreeing a lease for the airport which would enable us to expedite the reopening process."

She also confirmed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had pushed back a decision on whether the site's controlled airspace should be removed.

The council aims to have a deal finalised by March 2024, subject to conditions set out by Peel Group being deemed reasonable.

The BBC has approached Peel Group for comment.