Doncaster-Sheffield Airport reopening moves step closer after vote

Peel Group, Doncaster-Sheffield Airport's owners, said in November 2022 it was too expensive to keep open

Doncaster-Sheffield Airport could be a step closer to being reopened after plans to progress with an outline business case for the move were agreed.

The airport closed in November 2022, with its owners citing high costs.

On Tuesday, South Yorkshire Combined Authority's board unanimously gave the go-ahead to initial proposals which would see £138m of public money made available to fund the reopening.

Another vote is expected in the summer to agree the release of the funding.

The combined authority is now expected to move towards considering a full business case for the airport's reopening.

Announcing the result of the vote on X (formerly Twitter), South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said the vote was a "big and important step on the journey to getting our airport open again, and developing a world-leading sustainable aviation and manufacturing hub at Gateway East".

He added that if the airport was reopened, it would provide a jobs and investment boost to the area.

Mr Coppard had previously voiced his support for the plans and said it would "absolutely" be a good use of public money.

Doncaster's Mayor said the potential created by reopening the airport "cannot be understated"

Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, described the combined authority board's unanimous vote as "positive news".

"The economic potential of a reopened airport cannot be understated for Doncaster, South Yorkshire and the North," she said.

"Alongside Gateway East, it could prove to be an anchor for other related industries, helping to put us at the forefront of green aviation and related technologies."

City of Doncaster Council said it hoped to agree a lease with Peel Group, the owners of the Doncaster-Sheffield Airport site, which also owns Liverpool's John Lennon Airport.

An operator would then be appointed later this year, the council said.

Currently, there is not a reopening date set for the airport.