The airport has sat idle since 2022 after the Peel Group, the owners at the time, closed it down due to financial reasons
Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been confirmed to receive a £30m investment.
The South Yorkshire Mayor announced yesterday that the government is backing his plans for the property.
Reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport will support the local economy
5,000 jobs are expected to be created with the reopening of the airport, as well as boost the local economy by £5bn and wider benefits of £2bn by 2050.
The announcement states that the airport will be turned into a sustainable aviation hub, and comes as a result of devolution allowing the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to use funds in this investment.
A working group between Doncaster Council and SYMCA has been announced to support the local area with the airport reopening, and also discuss how the airport can support benefits for the region.
The first meeting between this working group took place yesterday with South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard, aviation minister Mike Kane, and representatives of Doncaster Council and the government in attendance.
The investment in the Doncaster Sheffield Airport will be supported through the devolved funding, SYMCAs investment fund, and the Integrated Settlement being implemented in SYMCA from 2026/27.
London Luton has also been confirmed to receive an expansion that will nearly double its yearly capacity.
“We can back our mayors and get opportunities for jobs and growth”
Deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, said: “If we are to really grow our economy and put money into the pockets of working people, regional growth needs to be hardwired into the decisions that we make.
“That’s why we have wasted no time in kick starting Local Growth Plans, owned by local leaders, and why, through our bold devolution plans, we can back our mayors and get opportunities for jobs and growth off the ground – just as they will with this thriving regional airport.
“Previous governments stood by as Doncaster Sheffield Airport was closed by its owner despite the overwhelming support for it to stay open. It now sits idle despite the potential to drive jobs and growth across the north. I am delighted to work with City of Doncaster Council and the Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard to support their efforts to recreate South Yorkshire Airport City as a thriving regional airport.
Transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “This Government will stop at nothing to fuel economic growth and deliver prosperity for people up and down the country, as part of our Plan for Change.
“I’m thrilled to see devolved funding for South Yorkshire being used to revitalise the airport project, and boost the region as a whole, and I look forward to the first flights taking to the sky.”
Mayor for South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, said: “This significant funding package, alongside the cross-departmental government working group we have now set up, is a vital signal of our shared commitment to our airport, to growth, to creating good jobs in our communities, and to the future of Doncaster and South Yorkshire.
“Since day one, we have been fighting for our airport, so we can create good jobs in the industries of the future and play our part in developing the sustainable aviation technologies of tomorrow. To now have the support of a government who don’t just understand that opportunity but truly want to help us realise it, couldn’t be more important.”
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