Mayor close to buying Doncaster Sheffield Airport from Peel

More than 1,000 acres of freehold development land will move under public control as part of the deal, as Oliver Coppard fights to reopen the airport that closed in 2022.

Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, said a deal was thrashed out with Peel Land over the summer after the envisaged leasehold agreement collapsed. Part of the problem was the failure to agree on a turnover rent.

Papers due to go before the mayoral combined authority board next Tuesday state: “Changing circumstances led to a new line of enquiry being pursued in the summer, with Peel indicating a willingness to explore options and the MCA proposing a more fundamental solution: the freehold purchase of the airport site and the adjacent Gateway East development land.”

BNP Paribas Real Estate was appointed to value the land. Terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed, although Coppard said he was determined to be transparent and would disclose the price after the deal was agreed.

The board report continued: “This development led to a period of intense negotiation, and with the support of land transaction advisors, the MCA has now agreed Heads-of-Terms with Peel for the purchase of these sites, totalling over 1,000 acres of land.”

The assets include the airport and development land south and west, known as Gateway East, as well as the proposed site of a rail connection reserved in the local plan.

The deal needs approval from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, City of Doncaster Council and Peel Land.

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, 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, today 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.”

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.”

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.”

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. Since then, SYMCA, City of Doncaster Council, local MPs, Government and other partners have worked together to develop plans to bring aviation back to the region.

Freight services are planned to return from autumn 2027, with passenger services returning in spring 2028, subject to the completion of the regulatory and operational work required to reopen the airport.

Stephen Wild, managing director of Peel Land, said: “There has been significant collaboration, and we continue to work closely with our partners at the City of Doncaster Council and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority to achieve the wider vision.”

The council is due to vote on 21 October and the combined authority on 27 October.