A UK airport is set to reopen after being given a huge financial boost. This comes after plans to open a third runway at Heathrow have been confirmed in what is expected to cost over £60billion, while a huge expansion of Luton Airport has also been approved
Now the government has given the go-ahead for a £30million investment plan at Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) which would see the creation of a sustainable aviation hub in South Yorkshire. The project will create 5,000 jobs, boost the economy by £5billion and provide wider benefits of £2billion by 2050. The airport site was shut to the public in 2022 after being deemed fincancially unviable. It has been sat idle since but local politicians have been campaigning to reopen it. The government will now work with Doncaster Council and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to reopen the airport. It will be run by FlyDoncaster, which is operated by Doncaster Council.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “Previous governments stood by as Doncaster Sheffield airport was closed by its owner, despite the overwhelming support for it to stay open. It now sits idle despite the potential to drive jobs and growth across the north.
“I am delighted to work with City of Doncaster Council and the mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard to support their efforts to recreate South Yorkshire Airport City as a thriving regional airport.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander added: “This government will stop at nothing to fuel economic growth and deliver prosperity for people up and down the country, as part of our Plan for Change.
“I’m thrilled to see devolved funding for South Yorkshire being used to revitalise the airport project, and boost the region as a whole, and I look forward to the first flights taking to the sky.”
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “This significant funding package, alongside the cross-departmental government working group we have now set up, is a vital signal of our shared commitment to our airport, to growth, to creating good jobs in our communities, and to the future of Doncaster and South Yorkshire.
“Since day one, we have been fighting for our airport, so we can create good jobs in the industries of the future and play our part in developing the sustainable aviation technologies of tomorrow.
“To now have the support of a government who don’t just understand that opportunity but truly want to help us realise it, couldn’t be more important.”
