South Yorkshire Leaders Back Plan to Bring Doncaster Sheffield Airport Into Public Ownership

South Yorkshire's mayor and the region's leaders have backed plans to bring Doncaster Sheffield Airport and the adjacent Innovation Quarter employment land site into public ownership. The decision was taken at a South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) board meeting and paves the way for the authority to enter into an agreement with Peel Land, with work continuing between the parties to finalise the deal.

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard described the move as a "big step on the journey to reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport and building a world leading sustainable aviation hub at Gateway East". He said all four leaders across South Yorkshire had joined him in backing the deal, which followed months of negotiations with Peel. He noted that Peel still needs to formally approve the deal and that some legal process remains.

Doncaster mayor Ros Jones said that fully reopening the airport is her number one priority, and that the decision to buy the freehold of the airport was not on the table four years ago. SYMCA, City of Doncaster Council, local MPs, Government and other partners have worked together on plans to bring aviation back to the region, and negotiations with Peel Land over the airport and Innovation Quarter have continued over the last 12 months.

Stephen Wild, managing director of Peel Land, said the company notes the outcome of the meeting and will continue to work jointly with SYMCA to seek to finalise the transaction.