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Doncaster Council Raises Tax, Changes Recycling, Approves Major Development
Recent decisions on council tax, recycling collections and major projects will affect household costs and local services in the coming years.
How we reported this
Doncaster Council approved the resumption of the airport programme at an Extraordinary Full Council Meeting and restarted discussions with the landowner. Cabinet members will also finalise plans next week for additional recycling bins aligned with national Simpler Recycling legislation, with first collections expected in Spring 2027. Reform UK and Conservatives reduced the planned council tax hike to 2 per cent from the Mayor's initial 4.99 per cent proposal despite warnings of a projected £14.6 million shortfall by 2028/29.
Tax and Recycling Shifts for Households
The lower tax increase directly limits the rise in bills residents will face next year. At the same time the new bins will expand household waste options under the legislation. First collections begin in Spring 2027, giving families clearer routes to manage recycling without extra cost in the short term. These changes follow the Extraordinary Full Council Meeting and cabinet work scheduled for the coming week.
Airport Restart and Waterfront Clean-Up
Resumption of the airport programme restarts talks with the landowner, opening prospects for activity around that site. Clean-up has already begun on the 22-acre Doncaster Waterfront brownfield site, supported by £18.6 million in Levelling Up funding and expected to attract up to £400 million in investment. Residents may see longer-term effects on jobs and surroundings from both projects.
Housing Quota and Future Planning
The council must create a new Local Plan to meet the government requirement for an annual housing quota rising from 920 to 1,235 units, with adoption expected by April 2029. This sets the framework for where new homes can be built and how growth is managed across the area. The plan will guide decisions that affect neighbourhoods and infrastructure over the next three years.
Cabinet members meet next week to complete the recycling plans. The airport discussions and waterfront work continue under existing approvals. Residents can follow updates through the council bulletins that detail each step.