Drop-in sessions to give access to wind farm plans

A 12-week consultation is open until 18 November

Four drop-in sessions highlighting detailed plans for a wind farm off the east coast of the Isle of Man have been designed to give residents "easy access to important information", the government has said.

The proposals by energy firm Orsted would see 87 turbines installed on a site between six and 12 nautical miles (11.1km to 22.2km) off Maughold.

A planning application submitted was officially accepted by the Council of Ministers in August, prompting the launch of a 12-week consultation.

The sessions will be held from 16:00 to 19:00 GMT in Douglas, Castletown, Ramsey and Peel between 30 September and 3 October.

Orsted's Mooir Vannin project has now progressed to a stage where people can share their views or register as an interested party as part of the consultation until 18 November.

The application, along with the feedback gathered, would then be referred to an independent panel with experience in signing off on major infrastructure applications.

That panel would then made a recommendation to the Council of Minister on whether the project should be allowed to progress, which could lead to a Tynwald vote on the matter.

The government said that part of the process could take up to 24 months.

Drop-in sessions

• 30 September - City Hall, Ridgeway Street, Douglas

• 1 October - Town Hall, Farrants Way, Castletown

• 2 October - Town Hall, Parliament Square, Ramsey

• 3 October - House of Manannan, Mill Road, Peel

A government spokesman said the public drop-ins would "help residents understand how to have their say" and would "explain what happens next in the examination process, after the public consultation".

Chief Minister Alfred Cannan previously said any views expressed during this phase of the scheme would help to "inform and shape the structure of the examination" carried out during the planning process.