Mayor insists public funds will be safeguarded amid airport reopening plan
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has made clear that public money will not be handed over without safeguards as efforts continue to bring back Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA).
DSA closed in 2022 after owners Peel Group declared the site commercially unviable. Since then, the City of Doncaster Council set up an arms-length company, backed by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), to pursue a reopening. Negotiations are continuing with Peel over changes to the site's lease, the mayor told the SYMCA board.
"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."
Coppard said most aspects of the proposed lease variations had been settled, but a dispute over the turnover rent clause remained under active discussion. He stressed that while he wants "swift progress", the council and SYMCA would only agree the right deal.
Where negotiations stand and what comes next
Board members and members of the public raised questions about financial protections and what would happen if reopening plans falter. One questioner told the board that September was a crucial month for the plan and asked whether mechanisms were in place to recover public funds if the scheme collapsed.
Coppard also said that work on the site has continued during discussions, and that the current expectation is for the airport to reopen in spring next year.
- Lease renegotiation with Peel remains ongoing, with turnover rent still being negotiated.
- Most other variations to the lease have reportedly been agreed.
- Site activity has continued while legal and commercial talks proceed.
Trade union representatives asked about ensuring contractors working on the airport meet standards on pay, conditions and health and safety. Coppard said equality considerations were built into the procurement process, and while he could not bind future operators he understood they shared those values.
Timeline at a glance
| Event | Date / status |
|---|---|
| Airport closure announced | 2022 |
| Council forms arms-length company to pursue reopening | Since closure (ongoing) |
| Lease negotiations with Peel | Under way (turnover rent unresolved) |
| Expected reopening | Spring next year (target) |
The reopening plan remains politically and commercially sensitive. Local residents and workers have watched developments closely since the airport’s sudden closure, which affected scheduled flights and cargo operations and threw up questions about jobs and regional connectivity.
For now, the message from SYMCA is that progress is being made but that any deal must protect public finances and deliver a viable long-term future for the site.
