No plan to reclassify proposed wind farm site as heathland

Five turbines could be built at the Earystane and Scard site

There is "no possibility" of reclassifying a proposed wind farm site as heathland, the chairman of Manx Utilities has said.

Proposals for a government scheme at Earystane and Scard in the south of the island, to help meet climate change targets, were recently revealed.

Responding to questions in the House of Keys, Tim Crookall confirmed heath was limited to the area's fringes.

But he said the site was not heathland habitat, which should be protected.

A total of 130 gigawatts of energy per year could be generated by five turbines in the area as part of a Council of Ministers commitment to produce 75% of Manx electricity through solar and onshore wind by 2026.

'Important distinction'

Jason Moorhouse MHK previously said clarity was needed on the whether the site was heathland to prevent spending on a project that could stall following the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), due to be completed by 2025.

He argued evidence in a 2008 Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (Defa) report, which focused on the Cringle Reservoir and quarry, stated the site was heathland and called for a new assessment.

The MU chairman said "an important distinction" should be made between heath and heathland, with the former referring to a type of open, uncultivated land, with low growing vegetation.

'Prudent to avoid'

But Defa had previously confirmed the area was not heathland, which was "characterised by acidic soils and a unique assemblage of plants and animal species", which would be "prudent to avoid" when reviewing potential windfarm sites, he said.

Mr Crookall said studies to identify the proportion of heath at the site confirmed it was present but "limited to very small patches in fringes and clearings", and none of the proposed turbine locations would "intersect heath at the plantation".

Therefore there was "no possibility" the site would be reclassified, he added.

Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to [e-mail]