Hope of recent money for northern airport as Tory minister backs away from row

Ministers have backed down in a row over money for a northern airport, in a glimmer of hope for campaigners.

Before Christmas, Transport Secretary Mark Harper initially blocked plans to divert money meant to construct a cancelled rail mission to assist reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport. But in a letter seen by this newspaper, the highest Tory didn’t rule out permitting the switch of funds to go forward.

Local Labour leaders have been working to revive the scuppered Doncaster Sheffield Airport, offering transport within the north a much-needed enhance after Rishi Sunak’s scrapping of HS2. They hoped to make use of a £30 million money pot – initially earmarked in 2022 for a rail hyperlink to the airport earlier than it closed – to assist pay for constructing work on the web site.

But Tory Transport Secretary Mark Harper has refused to allow them to re-route the money – which is able to doubtless go unspent inside the 5 yr time restrict. Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire’s Labour Metro Mayor wrote to Mr Harper in December, urging him to suppose once more.

And in a letter on Thursday, Mr Harper instructed Mr Coppard the change might be doable. He mentioned it will want approval each from his division and the Treasury – however that “any application you make will be carefully considered.”

Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) noticed each home flights to London and low-cost airways taking holidaymakers to European locations. But it closed in November 2022, with house owners Peel Group claiming it was not “commercially viable” – regardless of Mr Coppard and Doncaster Council providing to underwrite operations for a yr whereas a brand new airport operator might be discovered.

In August, this newspaper revealed the Mayor’s workplace and Labour-run Doncaster council have been on the verge of agreeing a take care of Peel Group to tackle a 100-year lease on the positioning – which may see flights taking off once more inside two years.