Crunch meeting set to discuss plans to reopen DSA

By Lisa James
05/04/2023
Home » Crunch meeting set to discuss plans to reopen DSA

Supporters of Doncaster Sheffield Airport are hoping the local authority agrees to fund a multi-million pound plan to reopen the regional hub when councillors meet next week.  

DSA was closed by owners Peel in November, after a strategic review concluded the airport was not financially viable. The last outbound flight left on 4 November.

Since then, a growing number of supporters, including local politicians, businesses and travellers, have called for the airport to reopen.

City of Doncaster Council’s Cabinet is meeting next week to discuss ringfencing £3.1m for a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to buy the airport.

In a report to be discussed at the meeting on 12 April, the council reveals Peel recently offered to lease the site, although the authority says the terms proposed are not acceptable.

Talks are taking place between the council and Peel’s representatives, the report says, to explore whether a longer lease with different commercial terms could ‘provide a basis upon which to achieve the council’s objectives’, according to local news service The Star.

The council wants to achieve a successful outcome through negotiations but, failing that, will continue with a CPO.

Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones said the fight for the airport is ‘not over’ and she hopes a deal can be reached.

But she warned: “The acquisition process will take time and it will not be cheap.”

The £3.1m councillors are being asked to agree to set aside will cover the costs to apply for the CPO, and will not cover the price of purchasing the site should the CPO be effective.

The council said the airport has huge potential for expansion and could support 36,000 jobs.

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