UK airport set for £160m reopening – but there’s a problem | UK | News
Plans to revive a disused UK airport have hit an unforeseen snag after authorities revealed vital infrastructure had been damaged by a rodent problem. Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which closed in 2022 after operator Peel Group concluded it was no longer financially viable, remains partially derelict as regional authorities develop an ambitious regeneration plan.
Under proposals backed by the local government, the airport is expected to resume freight operations later this year, with commercial passenger flights targeted for 2027. The refurbishment is being co-ordinated with operator Fly Doncaster, which is also seeking long-term operational partners to manage the airport. Again, Yorkshire Post It has reported that latest council documents have revealed that six airport air navigation equipment (AANE) cabinets must be replaced immediately after they were deemed unfit for further use. The report highlights that the structures are no longer adequate for their intended function and are affected by vermin infestations, creating additional challenges for the £160 million publicly funded reopening plan
It says: “Having reached the end of their functional lifespan and being affected by vermin infestation, they can no longer provide a safe or suitable environment for the navigation equipment they are required to house.”
The report states that the cabins are vital to ensure safe operations at the airport: “These [cabins] It is essential to support the installation, maintenance and protection of critical navigation equipment essential to the safe and efficient movement of aircraft.”
Despite the odds, airport bosses insist wider redevelopment remains firmly on schedule. FlyDoncaster Executive Director of Airport Operations Simon Hinchley said: “As we look to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport, our focus is on building a safe, efficient and operationally sound airport that is ready to serve a wide range of users from day one.”
The scale of the project was considered transformative for the region. The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, which backed the investment, outlined the strategic rationale in a statement: “Doncaster Sheffield Airport closed in November 2022, leaving South Yorkshire one of the largest urban areas in the UK without an international aviation presence.
“South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and Council Leaders have taken a historic decision to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport by approving a £160 million funding package that will see commercial flights return to the region.”
The refurbished terminal is expected to accommodate up to four million passengers each year, according to Fly Doncaster. Long-term forecasts suggest the airport could contribute £5bn to the regional economy by 2050.
Established in 1915 as a Royal Flying Corps airfield during the First World War, it later became a commercial airport in 2005 after being operated as an RAF base. It was formerly known as Robin Hood Airport, a nod to local folklore.
The airport also has one of the UK’s longest runways at 2,895 metres, which was originally built to handle some of the world’s largest and heaviest aircraft.
Doncaster Council, which is leading the redevelopment with regional partners, declined to make further comment on the replacement cabins when contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
