Doncaster Chamber welcomes ambitious new vision for South Yorkshire but says delivery must now match intent
Doncaster Chamber has welcomed the launch of the new South Yorkshire Strategy, describing it as an ambitious and important step towards creating a healthier, better-connected and more prosperous region.
The strategy brings South Yorkshire's priorities together within a single overarching vision for the first time. It sets out three long-term ambitions for 2035: enabling every resident to "stay near and go far"; making South Yorkshire the healthiest region in the country; and ensuring every community is connected and proud of its place.
The Chamber has particularly welcomed the breadth of the strategy and the genuinely collaborative process led by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA). Local authorities, businesses, health and education partners, emergency services and the voluntary and community sector have all contributed to its development.
The document also recognises Doncaster's strengths as a national logistics hub, its rail heritage and the significant economic opportunity presented by Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
However, the Chamber cautions that the strategy's success will ultimately be judged by delivery rather than ambition alone. It is calling on institutions across South Yorkshire to work more effectively together, align their priorities and demonstrate the collective leadership required to turn the document into tangible progress.
This will be particularly important for major regional projects such as the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, where close and constructive working between SYMCA, City of Doncaster Council and other partners will be essential.
Dan Fell MBE, Chief Executive of Doncaster Chamber, said:
"This is an ambitious strategy that paints a compelling picture of the South Yorkshire we all want to see by 2035. For the first time, the region has brought its shared ambitions together coherently in one place, and SYMCA deserves real credit for the genuinely collaborative way in which it has developed the document.
"Our challenge now is to turn that shared vision into shared action. South Yorkshire's institutions will need to work together more consistently and effectively than they sometimes do at present. That means aligning priorities, communicating openly and approaching major projects - including the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport - with a renewed spirit of partnership; indeed, at this critical juncture for the airport, the business community wants to see the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Doncaster Council working hand in glove.
"The new Government's commitment to accelerating devolution should give South Yorkshire greater control over the funding and powers needed to shape its own future. That is extremely welcome, but it also raises the bar for regional leadership. With more power and resource comes greater responsibility, and there can now be no hiding place when it comes to delivering growth.
"National government must play its part too. Businesses are still being held back by high costs, weak confidence and an excessive tax and regulatory burden. The upcoming Budget must take the brakes off the economy and give firms the confidence to invest, recruit and grow.
"The destination set out in this strategy is the right one. The test now is whether we can move from ambition to action with the pace, discipline and meaningful collaboration that South Yorkshire deserves."
The Chamber says it looks forward to working with Mayor Oliver Coppard, SYMCA and partners across the region to support delivery of the strategy and ensure that Doncaster businesses have a strong voice in shaping its implementation.
Posted on 21 September 2026
