APRIL 2008
Sheffield City Airport is now unlicensed and no longer available for general use. The airport continues to function solely as a private heliport which includes providing services for the South Yorkshire Police Helicopter and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
JANUARY 2008 PRESS RELEASE
Business park and heliport form £100m Sheffield regeneration scheme
The transformation of the former Sheffield City Airport into a heliport and business park was announced today.
Part of the runway at the Tinsley site will be replaced by the £100million Blue Skies Business Park. The development will provide over 900,000 square feet of state-of-the-art commercial and office accommodation, with the capacity to deliver over 2000 jobs over the next 10 years.
Meanwhile, existing facilities at the privately-funded airport will be restructured to create Sheffield City Heliport, providing a base for the South Yorkshire Police helicopter, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and other community services.
“Blue Skies Business Park will add value to the exciting ongoing regeneration of the region, creating a significant number of jobs. At the same time, Sheffield City Heliport will play a vital role in the provision of emergency services to South Yorkshire communities,” said a spokesman for Sheffield City Airport Ltd.
The 50-acre development was backed by public and private sector leaders when it was first unveiled in 2003. And today the body responsible for the new Sheffield Economic Masterplan welcomed news that work on the development will start this spring.
David Fletcher, Creative Sheffield’s Business Investment Director, said: “It is now vital for any major city to have a high quality and accessible out-of-town business property offer. We are therefore very enthusiastic about the Blue Skies development, which builds on the success of Sheffield Business Park in attracting a number of quality occupiers. We will be working closely with the developers to ensure that this site makes a significant contribution to the continuing growth of the Sheffield city region economy.”
Sheffield City Heliport will provide the first viable aviation use of the site since the airport opened in 1997. The last scheduled passenger flight departed in 2002 and since then the airport has continued to operate at a loss as a licensed general aviation facility.
Yorkshire Air Ambulance has used the site as a base for its new second helicopter since October 2007. Operations Manager Mike Lindley said the move had allowed the service to expand its operations.
He added: “The location is very good in terms of operational delivery as we can now service both the Yorkshire and North Derbyshire areas. Our response times are also down and we are able to attend more incidents.”
The South Yorkshire Police helicopter operations will be moved from the far end of the runway, at the force’s operations complex, to an enhanced facility alongside the former terminal building.
Inspector Clive Marsden of the South Yorkshire Police air support unit said: “This will be a significant step forward for us. We will be moving into a bespoke hangar and maintenance facility designed specifically for our requirements. This move ensures the continued provision of specialist policing for the people of South Yorkshire and our colleagues on the ground.”
Owners of the 24 light aircraft based at the Tinsley site have been informed. Staff employed by Sheffield City Airport Ltd have also been consulted over the changes, which will affect 15 jobs.
A spokesman for the company said: “In order to sustain a viable business we will concentrate on specific heliport operations, closing the site to general aviation this spring.
“The site will become an unlicensed heliport and consequently a number of positions will become redundant. This is an unfortunate but unavoidable measure and every effort is being made to secure alternative jobs for the individuals affected.”
