Plans to resurrect a disused UK airport have encountered an unforeseen obstacle after authorities revealed that vital infrastructure has been damaged by a rodent problem. Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which closed in 2022 after operator Peel Group concluded it was no longer financially viable, has remained partly abandoned while regional authorities have advanced an ambitious regeneration scheme.
Under proposals supported by local government, the airport is expected to resume freight operations later this year, with commercial passenger flights targeted for 2027. The regeneration is being coordinated alongside operator Fly Doncaster, which is also pursuing long-term operational partners to manage the airport. Nevertheless, The Yorkshire Post has reported that recent council documents reveal six aerodrome air navigation equipment (AANE) cabins now require immediate replacement after being deemed unsuitable for further use. The report emphasises that the structures are no longer adequate for their intended function and have been affected by a vermin infestation, creating additional challenges for the £160m publicly funded reopening scheme
It states: "They have reached the end of their operational life and are affected by vermin infestation, no longer providing a secure or suitable environment for the navigational equipment they are required to house."
The report adds that the cabins are vital to ensuring safe operations at the airport, noting: "These [cabins] are essential to support the installation, housing, and protection of critical navigational equipment, which is fundamental to the safe and efficient movement of aircraft."
Despite the setback, airport bosses insist the broader redevelopment remains firmly on schedule. Simon Hinchley, Executive Director for Airport Operations at FlyDoncaster, said: "As we work towards re-opening Doncaster Sheffield Airport, our focus is firmly on building a safe, efficient and operationally robust airport that is ready to serve a broad range of users from day one."
The scale of the project has been hailed as transformative for the region. The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, which is supporting the investment, outlined the strategic rationale in a statement, saying: "Doncaster Sheffield Airport closed in November 2022, leaving South Yorkshire one of the largest UK city regions without an international aviation presence.
"South Yorkshire's Mayor, Oliver Coppard, and Council Leaders have taken a historic decision to re-open Doncaster Sheffield Airport, approving a £160million funding package that will see commercial flights return to the region."
According to Fly Doncaster, the revamped terminal is expected to accommodate up to four million passengers each year. Long-term projections 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, the airport later operated as an RAF base before becoming a commercial airport in 2005. It was formerly known as Robin Hood Airport, a nod to local folklore.
The airport also boasts one of Britain's longest runways at 2,895 metres, originally constructed to handle some of the world's largest and heaviest aircraft.
Doncaster Council, which is spearheading the redevelopment alongside regional partners, declined to provide additional comment on the replacement cabins when contacted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
