Doncaster seeks investor and operator in airport lease bid

Doncaster Council has started looking for an investor and operator to take on the former Doncaster-Sheffeild Airport.

The council has attempted to find ways to reopen the airport since its closure in November 2022. It is now preparing a bid to lease the airport from owners Peel.

The council said is has now gone out to specialist markets to find both an investor with sufficient capital and an aviation expert with the experience and technical knowledge to run the airport.

Doncaster mayor Ros Jones said in a statement on Twitter, “This is a positive step to deliver a successful future for the airport. We share this determination and believe an airport site of this size and calibre, even now closed, is an attractive proposition.

“Early feedback in this investor search seems to reflect our collective view. This complex piece of work is of course commercially confidential so there are no further details that can be shared. This initiative will continue into the summer and an update will be given when we can.

“We are hopeful that this initiative will reopen our airport. However, this is a complex undertaking & there are no guarantees. Doncaster Council  is still prepared to carry out a CPO for the site as an ultimate backstop.”