Time and public confidence is running out on the Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopening project

The protracted renegotiations between City of Doncaster Council and landowner Peel are to the detriment of public confidence in the project.

Around £160m worth of devolution funding earmarked for the project will only be released by the office of South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard if the current lease agreement is altered.

It is understandable that the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) would demand a renegotiation when a 'turnover rent' clause allows Peel to receive 20 per cent of annual airport income above annual base rent payments.

Given that Peel closed DSA back in 2022 due to a lack of financial viability, local leaders need to be very careful as to how they proceed with the reopening project. Especially as millions of pounds in taxpayer’s money is now on the line.

With a SYMCA board meeting taking place next week, it surely is now crunch time for the project.

Justifiably, there is a lot of support for the airport. If DSA and the complementary sustainable aviation hub do take off, it could transform South Yorkshire’s economy. As campaigners point out, it is about more than just reopening the airport. Jobs, housing and infrastructure are much needed in the region and DSA could be the catalyst.

The lease renegotiation is not just an imperative for local leaders but also for Peel. A deal is there to be done that could be beneficial for both the landowner and the council.

Reopening DSA was never going to be easy and local leaders deserve credit for getting this far with the project.

However, time is of the essence but that is counterbalanced by the need for diligence.