A decision on whether or not to allow a windfarm to be built in Manx waters will likely be taken by the next government.
The Council of Ministers has accepted an application from Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm Limited for examination, initiating a comprehensive statutory process that is expected to conclude with a final ruling in late 2026.
The application, submitted under the Marine Infrastructure Management Act, proposes the development of the first offshore windfarm within Manx waters, situated off the island’s north-east coast.
The company has an agreement for a lease of the area with the DoI.
Engagement
This consenting process is separate from standard land planning applications and is managed by the Cabinet Office on behalf of the Council of Ministers, who are the statutory decision-makers for major marine projects.
The process is designed to be transparent and thorough, with multiple opportunities for public engagement.
A part of this process is a 12-week public consultation, opened on Tuesday August 26 .
Chief Minister Alf Cannan, said: “Now that an application for marine infrastructure consent has been accepted for examination, a series of events with statutory timescales will get underway.
“The pre-examination phase of the process begins immediately, which means members of the public, organisations and stakeholders have the opportunity to express their views on the proposal.”
He emphasised the importance of public participation, stating: “Views expressed during this phase can inform and shape the structure of the examination, that is, the examination timetable and the issues to be assessed during the examination period.”
Resource
The government has established a dedicated website, mima.gov.im, as a central resource for all information relating to the application and the examination process.
Individuals and organisations are encouraged to register as an interested party to be kept informed of all meetings and progress.
The Chief Minister noted: “By submitting a written response you ensure your views are considered as part of the examination process prior to the final decision being made about the application.”
Mr Cannan was also keen to say that CoMin is supposed to be neutral at this stage.
He said: “This does not mean that CoMin, or indeed any particular Minister, is either for or against the proposals and throughout this period Government will not be in a position to comment on any of the merits or otherwise of the proposal.
“The purpose of the consultation is to gather all those views from relevant stakeholders including the general public, and all the considerations that come forward as part of this process will be gathered and will be considered at the end of this examination period.”
Consultation
The consultation period will close at midnight on Friday November 18.
The public can respond online via mima.gov.im or by using paper forms available from the 3rd Floor Government Offices, Bucks Road, Douglas.
Paper copies of the full application are also available for review at Douglas City Library and Ramsey Town Library.
Following the consultation, the application and all responses will be referred to an independent examining body, a panel of experts appointed by CoMin.
Recommendation
This body will review the application, hold a preliminary public meeting, arrange any necessary hearings, and set the examination timetable. The examination is scheduled to run until July 2026.
Within 60 days of the examination closing, the examining body will submit a recommendation on whether or not to grant consent. Ministers will then make the final decision, expected between September and November 2026.
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