Long way to go for DSA reopening despite Andy Burnham insisting it’s within touching distance

The direction of travel towards devolution has been given real momentum by the Prime Minister’s pledge to allow England’s mayors to keep a share of taxes collected in their area.

Yorkshire is a proud county that has been too often held back by decision makers who understand little about the region and the people who live here. By allowing a share of taxes to be retained, not only are local areas given more say over their destiny, there is also a stronger sense of accountability.

That is why the Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) reopening project needs to be handled with absolute care.

Speaking in Sheffield, Andy Burnham said plans for fiscal devolution are designed to address issues such as the airport reopening.

However, the fact that so much taxpayer money is now on the line means that despite the desire to see DSA reopen, local leaders must exercise probity at every step.

The incentive is clear for the project. The economic prize on offer could transform the whole of South Yorkshire, placing it at the forefront of aviation sustainability while acting as a gateway to and from the region.

Confidence in the project though has taken a bruising with little information on lease renegotiations with the landowner Peel Group. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard is said to be still “negotiating hard”, however there is still no update. The longer this drags on, the more people will be concerned about whether the project is going to get off the ground.

While the Prime Minister struck an optimistic tone on the reopening of DSA saying it was “within touching distance”, there is still a long way to go.

The project is just as much about fiscal probity as it is about economic opportunity.