Doncaster looks set to fight for city status next year

The Government has today announced that the Queen will be granting city status to town that are successful in a competition, to mark her Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

It will be the first time new cities have been created in 10 years.

Three years ago, borough business chief Dan Fell announced Doncaster would bid again for city status at a conference, with Mayor Ros Jones saying at the time that she was fully behind a prospective bid and that Doncaster was ‘already delivering on a city level’.

If the bid is confirmed, it will be the fourth time the borough will bid for city status.

In 2000, Doncaster lost out to Brighton, Inverness and Wolverhampton and again in 2002 for the Queen’s Jubilee when Preston, Stirling, Newport, and Northern Ireland's Lisburn and Newry were selected.

Doncaster tried again in 2012 but Chelmsford, St Asaph in Wales and Perth in Scotland were chosen instead.

Chamber of commerce chief Dan Fell said he would ‘lead the charge’ in securing city status in 2019.

And Mrs Jones said at the time that Doncaster was right to bid again and the council was laying the groundwork for when the opportunity arises in future.

"I think economically it does assist having city status when you look for inward investment but it doesn't stop us either way trying to bring that in,” she said.

"We want to see more people in high skilled, high paid jobs, houses that are fit for the 21st century and people that want to come live, work and play here.

"We'll definitely put the bid in

The number of towns which will receive city status in 2022 has not been stated, and will depend on the ‘strength of applications.’

An announcement from the cabinet office stated: “Her Majesty The Queen has agreed for a competition to be held to grant the prestigious and rare civic honours of ‘city status’ and ‘Lord Mayor or Lord Provost status’, to a select number of worthy towns and cities in the United Kingdom.”

Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution, Chloe Smith, said: “The Civic Honours competition is an opportunity to promote your hometown and win an honour for it that will last for all time. I encourage entries from local authorities in every part of the UK, from vibrant towns and cities with distinct identities, history, and sense of community.

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said:

"As we look forward to a year of celebration, growth and renewal in 2022, this prestigious competition will inspire civic pride in communities right across the UK.

"It's a great opportunity for towns and cities in every corner of the country to showcase their heritage and tell us more about the people and places that make their local area so unique - and a fitting tribute to Her Majesty's reign in her Platinum Jubilee year."

The competition will close on 8 December 2021 and full entry guidelines and an application form has been published on GOV.UK.

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