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Mayor reveals 'substantial offer' submitted for Doncaster Sheffield Airport

Mayor Ros Jones said the potential buyers were found by Doncaster Council and the Combined Authority without help from the owners Peel Group

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Sebastian McCormick

23:33, 2 NOV 2022

Doncaster Sheffield Airport has now closed (Image: Grimsby Live)

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The Mayor of Doncaster has said talks are ongoing between a potential buyer forDoncaster Sheffield Airportand the current owners, Peel Group.

According to Mayor Ros Jones, a "substantial offer" was made by one of these groups for the airport. She said the potential buyers were found by Doncaster Council and the South Yorkshire Combined Authority before being introduced to Peel.

Negotiations are currently ongoing between the two parties and, as they are commerically sensitive, the Mayor has not commented on them.

However, Mayor Jones has also criticised the way Peel has approached the process saying they "put in place barriers" to their efforts to save the airport. On Twitter, she wrote: "Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly clear that @PeelLandP do not want to sell or save @DSA_Airport in any form, as they continue to put in place barriers to our efforts."

She said they had put forward plans last week to "develop a forward-thinking strategy for the airport site...to help unlock vibrant, job-creating alternatives to ensure future growth and prosperity". According to Mayor Jones, local government in Doncaster and South Yorkshire have not yet seen any evidence of this.

Mayor Jones also said she would put in place a compulsory purchase order (CPO) if not agreement is reached with Peel, bringing the site under Doncaster Council's control. She said: "Although a CPO would not stop Peels planned closure of the airport, as it would take roughly two years and open to considerable legal challenge, we are committed to continuing to work through every stage of this process in our efforts to save @DSA_Airport."

Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones, inset, and Doncaster Sheffield Airport — Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones says an offer has been made for the airport (Image: LDRS)

However, Peel has refuted the claims of a buyer saying no "credible" offer has been made. The GMB Union, who represent many of the workers at the site, said Peel had told them in a meeting an offer had been made, despite now saying there is no offer.

Sarah Barnes, GMB Organiser, said:"The Peel Group is being completely disingenuous; at a consultation meeting they made it quite clear a serious offer is on the table - today they say no such offer exists.

"It’s almost like they don’t really want a buyer for the airport and want to flog the site for housing."

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