Doncaster Sheffield Airport set for public ownership in landmark SYMCA deal

Doncaster Sheffield Airport could return to public ownership after SYMCA, City of Doncaster Council and Peel Land reached a proposed agreement for the authority to acquire the airport and adjacent Innovation Quarter employment land.

The deal, which remains subject to approval by the SYMCA Board and Peel, would mark a significant step towards reopening the airport and delivering South Yorkshire’s broader Airport City ambitions.

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 (Mayor of Doncaster), 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, 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.”

How the agreement would underpin a wider South Yorkshire Airport City vision

Should the 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 jobs, attract significant private investment and support the development of a world-leading hub for sustainable aviation and innovation.

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.

Simon Hinchley, Executive Director of Airport Operations at Doncaster Sheffield Airport said: “This is a further vote of confidence in Doncaster Sheffield Airport. These proposed changes to the freehold of the airport and wider estate will bring certainty and long-term visibility to our plans and reiterates the potential for the airport to make a highly positive impact on the regional economy and national supply chains.

“Our team has worked exceptionally hard over the past year to put in place all the elements required to make this airport a success. Additional certainty over the airport’s bright future can only be a good thing for our suppliers, partners and customers as long-term investment decisions are made.”