ABOVE: Doncaster Sheffield Airfield officially closed on 5 November 2022
“Work continues at pace on a number of fronts in relation to the programme of activity which hopes to save our airport,” notes a Joint Statement issued from Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones and Doncaster MPs, dated 5 May 2023.
Doncaster Sheffield (Robin Hood) Airport was closed in 2022 after being wound down by owners The Peel Group, who cited the airport as not being financially viable. Despite a petition to save the site attracting over 100,000 signatures, the airport ceased operations in November.
City of Doncaster Council have since been negotiating with Peel “on the content of a lease which would see the Council take over the site for a significant number of years,” and have property and aviation advisors “currently working on a further response to Peel” following an update dated 26 April. A meeting “between all parties” has been scheduled for 15 May 2023 to “progress this matter”.
The Council are also looking to further safeguard the airport’s infrastructure via additional planning restrictions (Article 4 Direction), which would remove Permitted Development Rights for the “demolition of buildings within a defined area”. Following a public consultation (which closed on 26 April), the council are “now preparing a detailed report in order for the relevant cabinet member to make a decision” on 19 May 2023.
Additionally, the City of Doncaster Council have announced their intentions to protect the airport’s airspace. Given the “critical stage” of current lease negotiations, they will be writing to the CAA and Aviation Minister over the coming days “to stress the importance of [their position] and how [they] see the airport returning as a critical piece of infrastructure and economic stimulus for Doncaster, South Yorkshire and the North”.
IMAGE: CITY OF DONCASTER COUNCIL
