Doncaster Sheffield Airport could pass into public hands. Decision on 27 October

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has announced an agreement under which Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), together with the adjacent Innovation Quarter investment site, would pass into public hands. It would be bought by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

What still needs to happen

The transaction has not been finalised. According to a statement from City of Doncaster Council, it requires the formal approval of the SYMCA board, which will meet on 27 October 2026. It must also be approved by the board of Peel, the current owner of the site. A final agreement between SYMCA, Doncaster City Council and Peel Land is also required.

Coppard argues that the agreement "puts the future of DSA back in our hands". He also recalled that four years ago residents were told the airport would close. The sources I had access to do not give the purchase price.

Background

The airport was closed by its owner, the Peel group, in autumn 2022. Since then, regional authorities have been looking for a way to reopen it. In March 2024, Doncaster council signed a 125-year lease on the former airport with Peel.

According to the city council, £193 million has been secured from various sources for the full reopening of the airport. This includes £160 million from SYMCA, from the Local Growth Fund and from Doncaster council. Full Doncaster council backed this financial support on 27 November 2025. Recruitment of airport staff began in September 2025.

The authorities are talking about a broader project, South Yorkshire Airport City. It is intended to create a hub for sustainable aviation, advanced manufacturing and innovation. An earlier assessment of the business plan from 2024 pointed to the possibility of creating 5,000 direct jobs. This was an estimate by regional authorities, not a guarantee.

What this means for you

For now, little changes in practice. The airport remains closed to passenger flights, and the takeover by SYMCA is not yet certain. If the plan succeeds, residents of South Yorkshire, including Sheffield and Doncaster, may in future have easier access to flights, and the region may gain new jobs. A date for the resumption of passenger flights has not been confirmed in the sources I used.