Airport set to be bought by mayor in landmark deal

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is set to buy Doncaster Sheffield Airport and nearby employment land from Peel, subject to approval by both boards. The proposed public ownership is intended to give the region long-term control of the site and support efforts to reopen the airport and attract investment.

The purchase covers more than 1,000 acres, including the Innovation Quarter. A detailed report on the public finances is due before senior councillors next week, and SYMCA officers say the project carries taxpayer risk; the authority conditionally agreed to provide a further £160m for the wider Airport City project in September 2025. The airport closed in November 2022, with freight services planned from autumn 2027 and passenger services from spring 2028, subject to regulatory and operational requirements.