A new airport.... South Yorkshire Airport City?

Doncaster Sheffield Airport Strategic Review Announcement​

Forums4airports discusses the latest press release from Doncaster Sheffield airport where the airport questions the future of the airport. The owners of the airport, the Peel Group have announced they are looking at their options as the group has decided the airport is no longer viable as an operational airport. Here's the press release:

"The Board of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) has begun a review of strategic options for the Airport. This review follows lengthy deliberations by the Board of DSA which has reluctantly concluded that aviation activity on the site may no longer be commercially viable.

DSA’s owner, the Peel Group, as the Airport’s principal funder, has reviewed the conclusions of the Board of DSA and commissioned external independent advice in order to evaluate and test the conclusions drawn, which concurs with the Board’s initial findings.

Since the Peel Group acquired the Airport site in 1999 and converted it into an international commercial airport, which opened in 2005, significant amounts have been invested in the terminal, the airfield and its operations, both in relation to the original conversion and subsequently to improve the facilities and infrastructure on offer to create an award winning airport.

However, despite growth in passenger numbers, DSA has never achieved the critical mass required to become profitable and this fundamental issue of a shortfall in passenger numbers is exacerbated by the announcement on 10 June 2022 of the unilateral withdrawal of the Wizz Air based aircraft, leaving the Airport with only one base carrier, namely TUI.

This challenge has been increased by other changes in the aviation market, the well-publicised impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasingly important environmental considerations. It has therefore been concluded that aviation activity may no longer be the use for the site which delivers the maximum economic and environmental benefit to the region. Against this backdrop, DSA and the Peel Group, will initiate a consultation and engagement programme with stakeholders on the future of the site and how best to maximise and capitalise on future economic growth opportunities for Doncaster and the wider Sheffield City Region.

The wider Peel Group is already delivering significant development and business opportunities on its adjoining GatewayEast development including the recent deal for over 400,000 sq ft logistics and advanced manufacturing development on site, creating hundreds of new jobs and delivering further economic investment in the region.

Robert Hough, Chairman of Peel Airports Group, which includes Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: “It is a critical time for aviation globally. Despite pandemic related travel restrictions slowly drawing to a close, we are still facing ongoing obstacles and dynamic long-term threats to the future of the aviation industry. The actions by Wizz to sacrifice its base at Doncaster to shore up its business opportunities at other bases in the South of England are a significant blow for the Airport.

Now is the right time to review how DSA can best create future growth opportunities for Doncaster and for South Yorkshire. The Peel Group remains committed to delivering economic growth, job opportunities and prosperity for Doncaster and the wider region.”

DSA and the Peel Group pride themselves on being forward-thinking whilst prioritising the welfare of staff and customers alike. As such, no further public comments will be made whilst they undertake this engagement period with all stakeholders.
During the Strategic Review, the Airport will operate as normal. Therefore passengers who are due to travel to the airport, please arrive and check in as normal. If there are any disruptions with your flight, you will be contacted by your airline in good time.
For all press enquiries, please contact Charlotte Leach at [email protected]."

"Not great news for DSA or the region"

Should the government or local council foot the bill and provide a financial subsidy to keep the airport open, thoughts...?

 

holtec to gateway east only 1.5 billion investment

Holtec selects Doncaster’s GatewayEast as home of new UK factory - City of Doncaster Council

www.doncaster.gov.uk

if peel dont use the airport for planes, they be grazing sheep on it.
there are investors looking to build from gateway east to all the way to A638.

 

holtec to gateway east only 1.5 billion investment

Holtec selects Doncaster’s GatewayEast as home of new UK factory - City of Doncaster Council

www.doncaster.gov.uk

if peel dont use the airport for planes, they be grazing sheep on it.
there are investors looking to build from gateway east to all the way to A638.

So a non aviation company states an intent to build a factory somewhere near a former airport.. SYMCA and CDC have clearly done a good job here, perhaps they should focus on this sort of growth and not reopening a non viable airport at significant expense to the public. Afterall this is exactly what Peel wanted to do anyway, you’d be a fool to think Peel haven’t had a hand in this news.

Meanwhile time ticks on, their pledges to reopen Spring 26 look almost impossible now as far as passenger flights are concerned. Two major airlines have indicated zero interest in flying from there (one has said it’s not in their interests for it to reopen), MAI seem absent from any recent PR stunts and didn’t even attend an industry event on behalf of DSA, a bloke from the chamber of commerce who clearly hadn’t been briefed went along instead. The airspace which we were told was vital in ensuring a smooth reopening is in the process of being completely removed yet this has been sold as a win. Coppard is trying to ‘tie up the commercials’ to try to ensure they can massage the figures as much as possible to get a positive answer, and as no private investor wants to buy in to the airport it will rely solely on whatever money the tax payer can throw at it. You also have people like Lee Pitcher MP heading up the road (literally 5 miles?) to a DHL hub and trying to suggest that they put some investment into Gateway East too. Is this also not just a tiny bit misleading considering their air hub is a few minutes flying time away? Meanwhile EMA announce plans to significantly increase cargo capacity…

Rather than grazing sheep on it CDC might be forced to concede that maybe it’s better off being used for something else after all. They appear to have accepted that this is an outcome of the airport not reopening anyway, contrary to your assertions. They have been told by at least two airlines that they are in no uncertain terms not interested in DSA and this has apparently hit home behind closed doors that Peel were correct all along - did you miss the bit where Peel rescued it from closure in 2012?

You claim that investors want to build across to the A638, that’s great but what exactly does this have to do with DSA? You have persistently failed to acknowledge what most people on here have been saying, you’ve failed to consider why Peel were forced to close the airport nearly 3 years ago now, and none of your ‘positive’ contributions have any implications on the success of a reopened airport. The Melton development in East Yorkshire is going from strength to strength, it includes an aviation component manufacturer. It’s next door to what was Brough Aerodrome (Hull Airport in the late 60’s), Brough Aerodrome was bounded by the main railway line into Hull with a station next to it. BAe even at one time seriously looked into extending the runway once the Cappa pass chimney was pulled down. Do we petition for them to reopen that airport given the recent developments? No, they realised aviation uses weren’t viable and so they’ve built houses on it instead.

Time they accepted it and had a frank conversation with the public. We now know they know the real problem with viability was lack of demand yet they don’t tell the public this, why?

 

holtec to gateway east only 1.5 billion investment

Holtec selects Doncaster’s GatewayEast as home of new UK factory - City of Doncaster Council

www.doncaster.gov.uk

if peel dont use the airport for planes, they be grazing sheep on it.
there are investors looking to build from gateway east to all the way to A638.

Not sure what you are on about given Peel were instrumental in attar ring Holtec…..Holtec are exactly the type of company Peel said they wanted to attract to the closed airport site…..the simple fact is, is that the airport site would generate far more investment and jobs closed as Peel stated in their viability report…..

 

Not sure what you are on about given Peel were instrumental in attar ring Holtec…..Holtec are exactly the type of company Peel said they wanted to attract to the closed airport site…..the simple fact is, is that the airport site would generate far more investment and jobs closed as Peel stated in their viability report…..

bullshit !!! Peel had nothing to do with attracting Holtec to south yorkshire.
l

 

bullshit !!! Peel had nothing to do with attracting Holtec to south yorkshire.
l

Really? So the fact that Peel own the land they intend to build a factory on has… nothing to do with Peel?

I can bet you they absolutely did. What’s probably sealed the deal is offers of subsidy from the MCA.

From my experience Peel are very hands off with their various businesses, they take quite an autonomous approach. However when there is an opportunity you can bet they’ve played a significant role in the background to bring it to fruition.

 

Really? So the fact that Peel own the land they intend to build a factory on has… nothing to do with Peel?

I can bet you they absolutely did. What’s probably sealed the deal is offers of subsidy from the MCA.

From my experience Peel are very hands off with their various businesses, they take quite an autonomous approach. However when there is an opportunity you can bet they’ve played a significant role in the background to bring it to fruition.

if you think Peel had anything to do with Holtec coming to south yorkshire , i give up.
and are you sure they are going to build on the land Peel own?
Holtec also looked at a site in Rotherham .

 

if you think Peel had anything to do with Holtec coming to south yorkshire , i give up.
and are you sure they are going to build on the land Peel own?
Holtec also looked at a site in Rotherham .

Well unless NCE have got this bit completely wrong:

The firm is entering detailed negotiations with landowner Peel Land to finalise the agreement

Holtec selects site next to Doncaster Sheffield Airport for £1.5bn SMR factory | New Civil Engineer

The firm is entering detailed negotiations with landowner Peel Land to finalise the agreement. The move comes after it confirmed South Yorkshire as the

www.newcivilengineer.com

Then yes I’m sure..

I do welcome your input rabbitfoot but with all due respect you’ve consistently posted a lot of nonsense on here. You give up if you want to..

 

same article cannot see Peel's name there?
The firm has already established memoranda of understanding with regional organisations, including the South Yorkshire Combined Authority (SYMCA), Sheffield Forgemasters, the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC). Discussions are also underway with major labour unions such as GMB, Prospect, and Community.

they had zero input in Holtec coming to south yorkshire

 

same article cannot see Peel's name there?
The firm has already established memoranda of understanding with regional organisations, including the South Yorkshire Combined Authority (SYMCA), Sheffield Forgemasters, the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC). Discussions are also underway with major labour unions such as GMB, Prospect, and Community.

they had zero input in Holtec coming to south yorkshire

I literally just quoted it for you, Peel Land are mentioned in the article! Even if it didn’t mention Peel (which it clearly does), Gateway East is Peels land and Peels baby.

If you believe that Peel have had no part to play in this then there’s really no taking you seriously at all. I do have a bridge to sell you though.

 

i will take a wild punt and say they will build the factory, next to amazone. and that is not Peel land

 

i will take a wild punt and say they will build the factory, next to amazone. and that is not Peel land

So why are they in ‘detailed negotiations with Peel Land’ currently then? Are you trying to say that this has even less to do with the (former) airport?

 

i am just having a punt. it is 500 yds from gateway east. the railway line backs on to it. and im guessing they want a a huge site.

 

i am just having a punt. it is 500 yds from gateway east. the railway line backs on to it. and im guessing they want a a huge site.

Have a punt all you want, the article clearly states that they’re in detailed negotiations with Peel. Maybe they’ll not reach an agreement in which case I’m sure there’s 13 other regions in the U.K. that would like to see them invest.

 

Whether they are building on Peel land or not, (and as they are in discussions with Peel that would suggest they are), this has nothing to do with the reopening of DSA. The arrival of Holtec will do nothing to make a reopened DSA viable. It won't impact on whether DSA opens or not. It won't bring money into the DSA coffers. So it's irrelevant to this thread.

If anything, this announcement only goes to demonstrate how valuable the airport site could be and the industries it could attract if it wasn't completely wasted on an airport doomed to fail. Again!

No doubt Ros Jones will soon be claiming the announcement demonstrates what a rip roaring success DSA mk 2 will be. The CDC spin department is nothing if not predictable.

 

No doubt Ros Jones will soon be claiming the announcement demonstrates what a rip roaring success DSA mk 2 will be. The CDC spin department is nothing if not predictable.

She has already spun it to have an airport slant. Especially having photo op in front of the terminal building.

 

She has already spun it to have an airport slant. Especially having photo op in front of the terminal building.

If it reopens, they should add her name to the airport.
London North Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood Ros Jones Airport. If they extend the terminal they should just about fit it on. They should hang a large portrait of her in the terminal too.

 

bullshit !!! Peel had nothing to do with attracting Holtec to south yorkshire.
l

Hate to pop your bubble matey but Peel own the land and are the folks Holtec have already had high level negotiations with before make a decision on the site, so they are very much part of the deal to attract them to the site…..Do you really think they’d make an announcement like this before speaking to Peel about developing on their land no deal with Peel - no Holtec…

If it reopens, they should add her name to the airport.
London North Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood Ros Jones Airport. If they extend the terminal they should just about fit it on. They should hang a large portrait of her in the terminal too.

Better still just call the terminal Spanner’s Garage!

 

Better still just call the terminal Spanner’s Garage!

They might find that idea to be too much of a wrench!

 

This discussion is blowing my mind. Why are we talking about such and such a company opening a warehouse or something near the old DSA airport site? Its a bit like reporting on a new shop opening in Nutsford next to Manchester Airport or a new business taking up space in the Leeds Bradford Airport Industrial Depot. I'm not sure anyone really cares. Is there any actual news on whether DSA is nearer to opening or do I need to go back to sleep.

 

This discussion is blowing my mind. Why are we talking about such and such a company opening a warehouse or something near the old DSA airport site? Its a bit like reporting on a new shop opening in Nutsford next to Manchester Airport or a new business taking up space in the Leeds Bradford Airport Industrial Depot. I'm not sure anyone really cares. Is there any actual news on whether DSA is nearer to opening or do I need to go back to sleep.

I think the implication is that Peel are going to be forced to continue allowing DSA to be used as an airport because developments are happening in elsewhere in the area. It’s a stretch (to be polite) to think that this news has positive implications for DSA. In fact what it shows is that Peel are capable of delivering and they want to use DSA for something else, they could do this with minimal public investment yet still provide regeneration and jobs/opportunities that the airport can not and will not provide.