Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Keir Starmer pledges Government support for council's £145m reopening plan

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reiterated Government support for the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
The issue was raised in Prime Minister’s Questions by Doncaster Central MP Sally Jameson, who asked Sir Keir to put on record his support for Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones’s ongoing efforts to reopen the airport.

The Prime Minister said: “We will work with the mayors of Doncaster and South Yorkshire to support efforts to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport.”

It follows Chancellor Rachel Reeves giving her backing to the reopening of DSA last month but the Government has not pledged any financial support towards the scheme.

A final decision is due in summer on council plans to reopen the airport using over £100m of public money.

City of Doncaster Council has established a company called FlyDoncaster and intends to provide it with loans totalling £105m, with the low rates of interest equating to an effective grant of £90m.

It hopes to reopen the airport next year and has signed up Munich Airport International to provide operational and management services as well as agreeing a 125-year lease for the site, which closed in 2022.

Concerns about the subsidy plan have been raised by rival airports such as Leeds Bradford, while the council’s auditors Grant Thornton issued a “letter of concern” about the financial risks of the project. A recent council report has put the anticipated opening cost at £145m.

The council intends to use its share of South Yorkshire devolution funding, which is overseen by regional mayor Oliver Coppard, for the funding. Mr Coppard has delayed a decision on the plan until summer as he seeks independent advice on its value for money.

The council says its business case for the airport, which has not been made public, suggests the airport will be a catalyst for wider regeneration work, creating 5,000 direct jobs and generating an economic return of £9 for every £1 spent.