Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopening: Andy Burnham urged to back 'ambitious regeneration project'
The reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been controversial due to the used of public money and some of the conditions of the lease agreement.
Andy Burnham has been urged to back plans to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport by the city’s Chamber of Commerce.
Dan Fell, chief executive, said the project would be transformational for South Yorkshire and the entire North, and would show the new Prime Minister’s commitment to growth in every postcode.
While regional organisations like City of Doncaster Council and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority have led on much of the work, he said national backing is needed for DSA to realise its full potential as a nationally significant airport.
Mr Fell was speaking at “Meet the Buyer” event, organised by the council, FlyDoncaster and Business Doncaster to allow local firms to explore opportunities relating to DSA.
He said: “Every time the business community has stepped in, it has been to remind decision-makers of the strength of support behind this project.
“The economic prize is significant and becoming clearer every day.
“DSA is exactly the kind of ambitious regeneration project that deserves Government backing, and we hope ministers will support future infrastructure investment, including a railway station serving the airport.”
Mr Fell said he wants Mr Burnham to show the same commitment to DSA as he has other northern growth projects.
The reopening has proved controversial as the council is set to use £160m of devolved funding from South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard for the plans.
On top of this, Doncaster Council is having to borrow £57m to frontload the funding.
Progress is being made, with a public consultation set to open on DSA’s airspace application.
However, Mr Coppard is still negotiating with landowner Peel Group over some of the terms of the lease, which include strict passenger targets and a turnover rent clause which would pay 20 per cent of the turnover to Peel.
A now-deleted CAA document “uploaded in error” this week said DSA’s preferred option for reinstating airspace is one involving a proposal which is due to require less airspace but requiring a “fundamental redesign” of flight paths compared to previous arrangements.
The same document also warned DSA’s passenger forecasts “are likely to be assumption-driven and speculative based upon tentative commitments from airline operators that the sponsor is entering into".