Doncaster Metripolitan Council Cabinet Meeting

Questions had been received from Lynn Griffiths and Wai Ming Yau, members of the public both in relation to Agenda Item 12 - South Yorkshire Airport City – Approvals required to support the reopening of the Airport.

In the absence of Lynn Griffiths, Mayor Ros Jones read out the question as follows: -

“Public vs. Private Investment:  Why has there been such a heavy reliance on public funds for this project? What efforts have been made to attract more private sector investment, and what were the outcomes of these efforts?"

The mayor thanked Lynn Griffiths for her question and provided the following response, and a copy of the response would be forwarded following the meeting: -

“Over the past 2 years City of Doncaster Council have engaged with the international business community, in the first instance to gauge their interest in the business opportunity and then via the Utility Contract Regulations 2016.  Paragraph 12 of the report provides the extensive nature of these arrangements and the number of parties involved in that process.

In addition, a significant number of alternative financial options were explored but again these did not yield the desired outcome. Consequently, the council identified that public finance would be required to reopen our airport, re-commence aviation activities, and enable delivery of the South Yorkshire Airport City vision.”

In the absence of Wai Ming Yau, the Mayor Ros Jones read out the question as follows: -

“What comprehensive market analysis has been conducted to ensure there is enough demand, passenger and cargo to justify investment in the face of competition from other regional airports given costs have risen to £145m?”

The Mayor thanked Wai Ming Yau for his question and provided the following response, and a copy of the response would be forwarded following the meeting: -

“Thank you for your question.  The development of the Financial Viability Report was prepared by Ernst & Young in conjunction with Aviation Advisers which subsequently fed into the Strategic Outline & Full Business Case which was prepared by Jacobs.”

The Decision Record Forms dated 15th January 2025 were noted.