Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Timescale for finding investors for closed site extended

The deadline for finding an investor to help reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been extended, Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones has said.

A decision was expected in the spring, but Ms Jones said nothing would happen until the summer after candidates’ requests for more time.

The airport closed in 2022, with owners Peel Group citing high costs.

Doncaster Council has been looking for an operator and investor to run the site since securing a 125-year lease.

In recent months, the council has carried out minor maintenance work at the airport and offered tours to potential investors, with several inquiries already received, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Work is also underway to restore the site’s controlled airspace to allow air traffic control to take place again.

Addressing a full council meeting on Friday, Ms Jones said: “My number one priority is to reopen our airport, providing jobs, opportunities and global connectivity to Doncaster and South Yorkshire.

“The lease has been signed and the acquisition of an operator is in the final stages and is due to be completed in the summer.”