Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Next major step in reopening airport is revealed as June deadline approaches

City of Doncaster Council’s cabinet is being asked to approve delegated powers to the Director of Corporate Resources in consultation with the Mayor to appoint an operator who will be allocated preferred bidder status before a final contract can be concluded later in the year.

Cabinet will hear next week (June 19) that the council is currently engaged in a Public Procurement Process to identify an operator with the ability and experience to take the steps necessary to reopen the airport, return it to profitability and to take forward the South Yorkshire Airport City concept which is a wider programme of economic growth and regeneration.

Coupled with this is the requirement for the Civil Aviation Authority to re-establish airspace following the airport’s closure in November 2022.

Tenders are due to be returned on 17 June 2024, following which an intense period of evaluation and clarification will take place to identify which submitted proposal provides the best deal for Doncaster and the potential operator that is best able to meet the challenge to reopen a successful and thriving airport.

The report also highlights that a planning restriction – Article 4 Direction - which prevented any assets to be removed or dismantled from the airport site should be removed now that the council is the leaseholder. There are also other due diligence requirements that need to be met under law.

Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones said: “This is another step forward in our journey to reopen our airport. The procurement process is complex and detailed, when we have completed the selection stage, we will proceed to giving an operator preferred bidder status, this will allow City of Doncaster Council and the operator to work together to conclude a contract for the reopening of the airport.

"This is all part of our carefully managed plan and the necessary processes involved."