Doncaster City Status

Doncaster acts, thinks and looks like a city and this year we were granted city status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations.

City of Doncaster has been confirmed as the borough’s new name at a Full Council meeting held on 17 November 2022.

This name has been supported by more than 60 per cent of people who preferred Doncaster to become City of Doncaster, according to a naming survey. The survey led by Team Doncaster shows that 62 per cent of people who responded, wanted the whole of Doncaster to be called City of Doncaster after the borough was named as one of eight places in the country to be granted city status as part of the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations earlier this year.

Doncaster became a city on 1st November 2022 and Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort visited Doncaster on Wednesday 9th November to officially confer the status and bestow a letters patent which is an official scroll.

Thousands of local people and businesses took part in the naming exercise with nearly 12,500 responses. The exercise led by Doncaster Chamber on behalf of Team Doncaster, which is made up of public, private, voluntary and community sectors and oversees the delivery and achievements of the Doncaster Delivering Together Borough Strategy, was made available online and in local libraries over the summer.

Doncaster Council will also change its name from January 2023 to City of Doncaster Council (CDC). The first use of this will be seen on digital sites such as this website and social media channels. There are no plans to undertake a wholesale rebrand of the council. The new brand will be used as and when replacements or changes are needed over time.

King Charles III and The Queen Consort inside the Mansion House

Below are some answers to questions regarding city status and what this might mean in the future.

Your Questions

What are the benefits to Doncaster of becoming a city?

There would be many tangible benefits to Doncaster if granted city status:

Doncaster is more likely to attract more visitors, which in turn, will improve the tourism offer for local people generating more choice of things to do, where to eat and shop and support local businesses.

Doncaster is more likely to attract greater levels of economic investment, creating new jobs, and further redeveloping and regenerating the borough.

Doncaster is more likely to gather stronger momentum and wider backing for key projects, such as a new hospital proposal, a University and airport station rail link.

Doncaster is more likely to attract key conferences, festivals, and concerts, with nationally recognised artists and a richer program of cultural events.

Doncaster is more likely to create more skilled jobs, allowing more young people to stay, live and work in the area, rather than them moving away to other localities.

Doncaster would gain a stronger voice in shaping both the local, regional, and national agenda to get more of what the borough deserves and to support the delivery of residents’ priorities.

Will the character of Doncaster change as a city?

Doncaster’s character is ultimately shaped by the people and communities of Doncaster. The borough is a place of places with their own characteristics and that diversity is something to be proud of. Getting city status will not change that. Many are rightly proud of our tradition as a market town, and our market identity will feature strongly in our bid. We hope that city status will deepen the sense of public pride in what it means to come from the borough. We believe we are special in being a city of places if we are successful.

Will council tax and business rates go up as a city?

Winning city status does not lead to increases in council tax or tax or business rates.

Will city status mean that local prices go up (shopping, rent, eating out, etc.)?

Winning city status does not lead to increases in local prices, inflationary price increases are down to the local and national economic climate.

At the same time, city status could lead to increased wage potential, better amenities, and other cost of living benefits.

Will city status mean we get more money to fix potholes, improve services etc?

The City Status Civic Honours competition does not provide a financial investment in itself but it could open the door to more funding opportunities.

How much has it cost to bid for city status, where will the money come from, and would the money be better spent elsewhere?

The project will cost less than £50,000 in total equating to roughly 16p per resident in the borough. The total budget is a very small cost compared the budgets of partners and the council and if successful could lead to significant sums of potential inward investment.

The benefit of this financial outlay is that if successful, gaining City Status may lead to further inward investment, for example, attracting the Great British Rail Headquarters to Doncaster.

It would also add gravitas to bid for City of Culture, promoting the growth of creative businesses and arts-based organisations.

And, whilst the positive impact City Status would have on factors such as income levels, educational opportunities, employment status and levels of equality are difficult to predict, we know that by attracting more investment in Doncaster, we can create more opportunities that would support the improvement of resident’s health, wellbeing and aspirations.

Will there be further costs if Doncaster wins?

A level of rebranding will inevitably follow if Doncaster becomes a city, most visibly in areas such as public signage. However this will not happen immediately, and will be planned to ensure value for money over time.

What about branding?

Names will change over time to reflect Doncaster is a city but it will be done in a cost effective way. Doncaster Council, for example, will change its legal title and be known as City of Doncaster Council from January 2023. The change will be made first on things that are quick, easy and cost effective like the Council website. Other changes will be made over time as things expire or need re-ordering.