This is why South Yorkshire council leaders are being asked to grant a £5million loan to Doncaster Sheffield Airport

Sheffield City Region officers through the Local Growth Fund, are recommending leaders approve a £5 million loan to airport bosses with a condition it will be paid back within five years.

The expansion plans include a new enlarged central search area at the northern end of level three of the terminal which will also include ‘smart lane’ technology to improve processing.

Bosses also want to use the money to reconfigure the level three departure lounge, linking the exit with the new central search area along with improving passenger facilities.

The plans will also feature two new departure gates with link bridges to the planes - including one for passengers with reduced mobility.

The level one international arrivals and immigration area is down to be expanded along with a ‘lightweight single storey extension’ to the terminal building to allow more passengers to come through.

City Region bosses say it is ‘good value for money’ and for every £1 spent - it returns nearly £50 over the next 10 years creating over 200 jobs.

Peel Group, who own the airport, will provide match funding.

Ruth Adam, deputy chief executive at Sheffield City Region, said: “The investment will enable the Airport to continue growth towards a critical mass of passengers, including business, leisure and inbound visitors, ensuring national and regional passenger growth opportunities are not inhibited by ‘on airport’ infrastructure.

“A further second £5m phase of enhancement will be fully funded by Peel Group once passenger footfall grows sufficiently, but this is anticipated to be 2022/23 at the earliest.

“This second stage is only triggered if/when passenger numbers reach 2.5m, but the employment impact from this are included within the value for money calculation for this application.”

Doncaster Sheffield Airport opened in 2005 at the site of the former RAF Finningley airbase, and has one of the longest runways in the country.