The bid to reopen Doncaster Sheffield airport has taken a step forward with an agreement to put £3.1m towards a potential Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).
Members of City of Doncaster Council’s Cabinet today (April 12) gave their backing to a report recommending that the money should be used for initial costs linked to a CPO.
The report describes a CPO as a “last resort” in case negotiations with landowner Peel Group fail.
Read more: Doncaster Sheffield ‘could reopen next year’
It says: “Having regard to the desirability of retaining the airport and returning it to operations, the council is proposing to continue discussions with Peel, aiming to achieve a successful outcome by agreement. However, as a contingency measure it is necessary to make preparations to exercise compulsory acquisition powers.”
The airport was shut down in autumn last year after Peel decided it was not commercially viable.
The company wants to develop the land for other purposes, but the council is keen to reopen the airport.
In the report presented today, the airport is described as having been a “major economic asset” and a “strategically important piece of infrastructure for both passengers and businesses within South Yorkshire and beyond”.
It adds: “There is extensive support for the reopening of DSA from the public and business community, along with cross-party political backing. This includes petitions with more than 130,000 signatories that have called for the airport to be saved.”
The council said it had tried introducing third parties to Peel in an attempt to find one which might be able to take over the airport, but these attempts have failed so far.
The local authority also said Peel had recently offered it the chance to lease the airport, but the terms were unacceptable in the council’s view. The council is still talking to Peel about alternative terms.
Yet it was agreed today that £3.1m should be put towards the back-up option of a CPO, if that is required.
The preferred plan is to get the money from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) with an application to the ‘Local Growth Fund’.
But if that fails, City of Doncaster Council reserves will be used.
The money would go towards legal and “programme” costs, with most of it being spent in the next two years.
The figure – which would not go towards the land purchase itself – was arrived at following “rigorous dialogue with all external parties”, the council report says.
It added “there is currently no reason to conclude that a CPO would not be confirmed” and suggests a “good case” is being developed.