South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has stressed that the £16 million of initial public funding for the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) does not equate to an open-ended commitment from taxpayers — while confirming the project remains on course for a spring 2028 relaunch.
Safeguards and lease negotiations
Coppard made the remarks during a meeting of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority board on July 14, responding to a member of the public who warned September would be a critical month for the plan and asked what protections were in place should the scheme falter.
“I’ve always been clear there’s no blank cheque for the project. We absolutely have to protect taxpayers’ money as well as doing everything we can to reopen DSA and expanding our gateway as a world-leading sustainable aviation hub,”
The mayor said the funding agreement contains clauses intended to safeguard public contributions. He also said most aspects of the proposed lease variations with landowner and former operator Peel have been settled, with the turnover rent clause still under active discussion.
Progress on site and timetable
Coppard told the board that work on the site has continued while the legal and commercial negotiations proceed. He reiterated that, although he wants swift progress, the city region must secure the right deal.
- Initial public support: £16m pledged.
- Lease talks: most points agreed; turnover rent unresolved.
- Target reopening: spring 2028.
The mayor said it remained vital to balance urgency with prudent oversight so public money is not exposed to undue risk.
Jobs, contracts and worker protections
Questions were also raised at the meeting by Dave Pike of the regional Trades Union Congress about ensuring contracts for companies working at the reopened airport include protections on pay, conditions, health and safety and trade union recognition.
Coppard thanked unions for their campaigning to see the airport reopened and said it was important that the jobs created are “good quality and well paid.” He added that equality issues have been incorporated into the procurement process. He stopped short of making promises on behalf of future operators.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Funding (initial) | £16m agreed |
| Lease negotiations | Mostly agreed; turnover rent clause under discussion |
| Reopening target | Spring 2028 |
The council’s arms-length company, set up by City of Doncaster Council with backing from the Mayoral Combined Authority, remains engaged in talks with Peel. Coppard said the work on-site has not halted during negotiations — a point aimed at reassuring residents and local businesses anxious about the future of the site.
For people living and working around the airport, the immediate questions are practical: what jobs will return, how quickly firms will be appointed and what protections will apply to staff. The mayor’s assurances underline that while public bodies are prepared to underwrite a revival of DSA, they intend to do so with contractual safeguards in place.
Further updates are likely as lease discussions progress and procurement moves forward; the coming months will be watched closely by trade unions, local employers and residents who see the airport’s future as integral to Doncaster’s economic prospects.
