Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Surface Access Statement – What Businesses Need to Know

By Sian Booth, Head of Policy and Partnerships, Doncaster Chamber 

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and City of Doncaster Council have recently published a 43-page Surface Access Statement for Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) and Gateway East. I’ve read it in detail - so you don’t have to.

Here’s what matters most for businesses.

Why This Matters 

This isn’t a formal service access strategy - it’s a statement of intent that sets out how transport links will be developed to support the reopening of DSA and the wider Gateway East development. 

The message is clear: the success of the airport, and its ability to anchor growth in South Yorkshire, depends on connectivity. A strong surface access plan underpins: 

• Passenger experience – giving travellers confidence they can get to the airport reliably and on time. 
• Airline competitiveness – making DSA an attractive option for new routes. 
• Workforce access – enabling staff to get to shifts dependably. 
• Freight and logistics – keeping goods moving efficiently. 
• Environmental sustainability – cutting unnecessary journeys and emissions. 

What’s in the Plan?

The report sets out a phased framework - with short-, medium-, and long-term priorities - and positions the airport as a gateway for global connections and a major driver of South Yorkshire’s economy.

Strengths

• DSA has a long runway, uncongested airspace, and a 90-minute drive-time catchment that positions it well to serve millions.
• Great Yorkshire Way provides excellent current road access.
• Doncaster Rail Station is one of the best-connected hubs in the UK and a natural onward connector.

Weaknesses

• Public transport is brutally underdeveloped. The report highlights that it’s easier by train to get from DSA to Leeds than to Sheffield - despite Sheffield being closer.
• This lack of alignment means South Yorkshire’s principal city isn’t properly connected to its own airport.
• Car travel remains the default choice, driven by concerns about reliability and punctuality.
• This limits social inclusion, as local communities risk being left behind without affordable, accessible transport options.

Highways: Junction 3 of the M18 

• Junction 3 is the single biggest infrastructure challenge. 
• It has a holding direction from National Highways, blocking new development approvals until capacity improvements are agreed. 
• A £50m improvement scheme is already designed - reconfiguring the junction, easing congestion, and adding resilience. 
• Funding is the missing piece. Unlocking it would: 
• Lift the holding direction. 
• Unlock Gateway East development. 
• Give investors confidence to back major projects. 
• Other junctions (Bankwood, Parrot’s Corner, Great North Road) are forecast to cope with growth after recent upgrades. 

Rail

• A new rail station is planned, connecting to the East Coast Main Line and Lincoln Line.
• It’s not required on day one of reopening, but it is essential to the long-term future, supporting higher-value employment and growth as the site reaches critical mass.
• This sits within the Sheffield City Region Integrated Rail Plan.

Bus and Active Travel

• Bus services won’t be a quick fix, but they’re described as a long-term foundation for accessible, inclusive growth.
• Active travel links are also part of the phased approach to ensure local communities benefit.

Sustainability & Climate 

• Reopening DSA with strong transport links can reduce emissions by cutting unnecessary long-distance trips to other airports.
• Aligning growth with sustainable access avoids overwhelming local roads.
• Climate considerations sit alongside commercial drivers like passenger numbers and car parking revenue.

Commercial Realities

• Airports need to hit a critical demand threshold of flights and passengers to be viable.
• Non-aviation income streams (especially retail and car parking) are vital - and, realistically, travellers are willing to pay for the convenience.
• Reliable access for staff, goods, and services is as important as passenger flows.

What It All Means for Business

• Connectivity is king. Without a credible surface access plan, the airport cannot succeed.
• Junction 3 is the key unlock. Securing funding for its upgrade is essential to unlock development and investor confidence.
• Public transport is the big gap. Sheffield in particular must be better connected to DSA to maximise the airport’s role as South Yorkshire’s gateway.
• Freight and logistics are central. With Gateway East next door, surface access is as much about moving goods as moving people.
• Sustainability is opportunity. A reopened DSA can cut emissions by reducing long journeys to other airports - but only if access is done right.

The Surface Access Statement makes it clear: the reopening and growth of DSA depends on how we move people and goods in and out of the site.

With the right interventions - particularly at Junction 3, rail, and buses - Doncaster Sheffield Airport can become not just a passenger hub, but a catalyst for South Yorkshire’s economic transformation.

I’ll be keeping businesses updated as this progresses - but for now, consider this your executive-level digest of all 43 pages.