The award-winning Doncaster Sheffield Airport have launched their ambitious Vision and Masterplan outlining the expected growth over the next twenty years. The Vision realises the airport’s full potential, delivering major international connectivity and economic benefit to Yorkshire, the surrounding regions and the UK.
The Vision sees the creation of a highly sophisticated Aerotropolis in the Sheffield City Region with the airport’s 1600-acre site, known as Aero Centre Yorkshire, becoming a central hub. The ‘airport city’ would help transform the North of England, creating 73,000 new jobs for the Sheffield City Region and provide exciting advanced manufacturing, logistics and aviation-led innovation opportunities. It is anticipated that the Vision would deliver £3.2 billion GVA per year by 2048 across the region.
A key component of the Vision is the addition of an airport rail station connected to the East Coast Mainline; requiring only 7 miles of new track, it could be open in just five years’ time.
The station would provide a direct rail link to London and Newcastle in under 90 minutes travel time. It would also be connected to major regional centres such as Sheffield, Leeds and Hull. Up to 9 million people living within a 90 minute journey time would have access to the airport by public transport, an increase of 6.6m.
The station proposal has received widespread support and has been recognised by stakeholders including Transport for the North, Network Rail and current train operators.
The station would serve the airport’s passengers, onsite workers, new housing and employment areas – an estimated 1.6 million people per year, by 2037. Additionally, the rail station would accelerate the development of housing in the immediate vicinity and surrounding areas, with an initial delivery of over 8,500 houses anticipated.
Regional tourism would be also boosted, not only by an expanded airport, but with the expansion and construction of major attractions close to the airport. The Yorkshire Wildlife Park which is already set to grow to 1.5 million visitors, along with the conception of a new PGA golf course, both served by the airport station, would benefit.
The Vision highlights the airport’s cargo plans in line with the increased passenger growth, as the site has the ability to handle up to 250,000 tonnes of cargo per year. This would support the UK’s international trade at a time when no airports across the UK are significantly expanding cargo capacity.
The airport’s Vision Plan can be found here
www.flydsa.co.uk/vision
The airport’s Masterplan detailing the future development of the current site and projected growth over the next 20 years will now go out for public consultation. The airport is forecasting 4.7 million passengers and 70,000 tonnes per year over 20 years. Should a rail station be open by 2024, the expected passenger numbers would more than double to 11.8 million by 2050. Details on the 8 week public consultation can be found here
www.flydsa.co.uk/masterplan
DSA Vision Plan
• Vision for a Connected National Economy realises the airport’s potential as a major catalyst for transforming the North of England, creating new employment, housing, tourism and aviation capacity
• Capacity of 25 million passengers and 250,000 tonnes of cargo per year
• Creation of up to 73,000 new jobs
• £3.2 billion GVA per year by 2048
• Single piece of new infrastructure required – rail station connected to the East Coast
• Mainline for £170 million, could be open in 5 years with passenger numbers to the airport expected to be 11.8 million by 2050
Masterplan 2018 – 2037
• Airport passenger numbers increases to 4.7 million per year by 2037
• Cargo operation increase to 70,000 tonnes per year by 2037
• Terminal size to double with increased facilities for passengers
• Up to 3000 new homes to be built on site with new retail, hotel and leisure complex
• 5.5 million sq ft of employment space
• £238 million boost to tourism economy for the region
• £3.7 billion GVA by 2037