City of Doncaster Council has agreed to set aside £3.1 million to help save Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) from permanent closure.
The airfield, previously used mainly by Wizz Air and TUI, closed last November, with owners Peel Group saying it was no longer commercially viable.
Peel has offered to grant the council a lease to run the airport, but if acceptable terms can’t be agreed, the £3.1m set aside will help fund a compulsory purchase order (CPO).
The funding will cover legal fees, but not the cost of the CPO.
“Given its strategic importance, economic value and significant growth potential, plans to re-open the airport are being vigorously pursued,” the council said in a report.
“There is extensive support for the reopening of DSA from the public and business community, along with cross-party political backing. This includes petitions with more than 130,000 signatories that have called for the airport to be saved.”