Member Article

Massive 1,700 jobs boost for Doncaster

Doncaster is set for a 1,700 jobs bonanza after a plan for a business park near Robin Hood Airport was given the green light.

And the proposal by Peel Investments North Ltd could see the neighbouring Robin Hood Airport put on par with more established UK airports, claims the developer behind both the airport and the new business park.

Doncaster Council’s planning committee has given the thumbs up to the application, which will include a pub, plus office and industrial land, east of Poplars Farm in Hurst Lane. Peel representative, Dave Trimingham, said: “The airport and Peel have invested significantly in this area and this application relates to the next phase in the investment.

“It will support employment growth, in industries such as logistics, technology, education and training - building on the existing jobs base at the airport. The pub and restaurant will serve the business park users as well as nearby residents. Once full, we estimate it could employ up to 1,700 people.”

He added: “This business park will see Robin Hood Airport empowered to compete with other airports across the country, particularly Leeds/Bradford.”

DMBC planning officer, Mark Sewell, told members: “The land is allocated as a countryside policy area currently, however within the airport master plan, this land is set aside as a business park. We are comfortable that it fits in with the ethos of the airport and getting business parks off the ground.”

He added that access to the site has already been provided by the construction of the Robin Hood Airport road, which gives a route for all modes of transport including buses, taxis, cycling and walking.

Mr Trimingham said there was no reason for concern from councillors or local residents about the road network coping with the building of the new business park, as nothing would move forward until FARRRS – the Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme – was in place.

FARRRS, given the go-ahead in June last year, is a multi-million pound link road to put the airport within a short drive from the M18.

There have been concerns by The Campaign to Protect Rural England that the road would ruin 89 hectares of countryside. However, Doncaster Council said only 14 hectares of FARRRS would be built on green belt and that it acted to ‘positively protect’ the countryside.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Gatehouse .