Airport sale deal reportedly close, claim sources

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is reportedly close to signing a deal to buy Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) from the Peel Group.

Sources with knowledge of the plans said most of the deal had been agreed, describing it as "great news" for Doncaster and the airport.

The proposal to purchase the site marks a significant change of direction from the plan to lease the site and follows a year of private talks with landowner Peel to agree a new lease.

Doncaster Council has said it would not comment on "speculation" and the mayoral authority said with negotiations ongoing it would be "inappropriate to comment".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said no figures for a potential sale had been revealed and it was unclear how the purchase would be funded.

SYMCA has held £160m in funding for the airport's reopening since September 2025.

The money was due to be released only once a number of conditions had been met, including renegotiating the lease.

When approached for comment about the purchase, a spokesperson for the SYMCA said: "Negotiations with the landowner continue to progress positively and constructive discussions remain ongoing.

"As set out in our forward plan for key decisions, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board is due to receive an update on Doncaster Sheffield Airport at its meeting later this month.

"As negotiations are ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage."

A spokesperson for the council said: "Conversations happen frequently about DSA and we do not comment on speculation.

"The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board will meet this month and be updated on the airport. We will keep our communities and businesses up-to-date on progress at the appropriate point."

Doncaster Council has been working to reopen DSA using public funds after attempts to find a private operator were unsuccessful.

The airport closed in 2022 after the Peel Group determined it was "commercially unviable".

Buying the airport from Peel would mean local authorities will own both DSA and Fly Doncaster Ltd, the arm's-length company set up by Doncaster Council to run the airport.

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