The reopening of Doncaster Sheffield airport will turbocharge economic growth in the region and will require the haulage industry to play a critical part in its redevelopment, according to the RHA.
The Department for Transport said the project would support 5,000 jobs, boost the economy by £5bn and provide wider benefits of £2bn by 2050.
It said the airport had sat idle since closing in 2022 after 17 years, despite its potential to drive growth across the North.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “This government will stop at nothing to fuel economic growth and deliver prosperity for people up and down the country, as part of our Plan for Change.
“I’m thrilled to see devolved funding for South Yorkshire being used to revitalise the airport project and boost the region as a whole, and I look forward to the first flights taking to the sky.”
The RHA said the sector would play a key role in delivering the project: “We are pleased to see that the airport will reopen, sparking new long-term growth across the region and beyond,” said James Barwise, RHA policy lead.
“The announcement once again shows how devolved local government investment in significant infrastructure projects can benefit business and communities.
“Our sector will play a critical part in the redevelopment of the site and supporting infrastructure, which is why we will need sufficient numbers of lorry drivers in the workforce to help deliver the project efficiently.
“The industry needs another 40,000 new drivers every year for the next five years to service overall demand to drive growth across the UK’s economy.”
Chris Tindall started writing for the haulage and logistics industry in 2002 and quickly realised there was enough going on to keep him busy for a very long time.View full Profile
