Local politicians have agreed to make £138 million of public money available to fund the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

Plans to progress with an outline business case were agreed unanimously by South Yorkshire Combined Authority on Tuesday (13 February).

The decision is a ‘massive step forward’ in the campaign to reopen DSA, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said.  

The airport closed in 2022 after owners Peel Group said it was too costly.

The local authority still needs agreement to lease the airport from Peel Group and needs to appoint an operator.

Mayor Coppard said: “I’ve got every confidence that with the right operator, DSA should thrive. It’s got a huge asset in terms of the runway, the terminal is great, there are hangars there that could be part of a wider project around the sustainable aviation hub. That’s part of that wider South Yorkshire Airport City, about jobs and growth and opportunity for the whole of South Yorkshire.”

Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones said: “It is positive news that today our outline business case to save and reopen our airport has been signed off by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority board. The next stage is to develop this into a full business case towards the summer.

“Negotiations with the current owner continue to progress positively whilst procurement for an operator is well underway and we hope to secure a suitable experienced partner in the spring.

“The economic potential of a reopened airport cannot be understated, for Doncaster, for South Yorkshire and the north.

“The report approved today is the next stage in our plan to save and reopen our airport.”