Dates for offshore windfarm scrutiny meetings announced

Independent examining body to look at plans for Mooir Vannin project

The dates for an initial round of meetings and hearings about plans for an offshore wind farm in Manx waters have been announced.

The application is due to be scrutinised by an independent examining body.

Ørsted is planning to build 87 wind turbines off the east coast of the Island as part of the Mooir Vannin project.

The preliminary meeting to discuss the procedure for the examination of the application is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 3 March at 10am at Woodbourne House, Douglas. 

If you'd like to attend, you need to register by Tuesday 24 February.

A public meeting will then be held at the same venue at 4pm.

Three further hearings will be held on consecutive days at the Comis Golf Club, starting at 10am, which will explore the issues below in more detail:

• Wednesday 4 March - Marine Infrastructure Consent and matters relating to land and rights
• Thursday 5 March - environmental impact assessment and protected species
• Friday 6 March - shipping and navigation

You can register to attend here or by emailing MIMA.Applications@gov.im.

You can also register by post by sending a letter to the Case Manager, Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm application, Cabinet Office, Third Floor, Government Office, Bucks Road, Douglas IM1 3PN.

The meetings will also be available to watch via livestream and a recording will be published at a later date.

Examination process explained

A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office says: ‘The Marine Infrastructure Management Act 2016 and Marine Infrastructure (Consenting Process) Regulations 2024 set out a transparent consenting process for applications for controlled marine activities in the Isle of Man’s territorial waters. The process includes a number of distinct stages, with several key requirements for public engagement. The public consultation closed recently is an example of this in the pre-examination stage.

'On Friday 6 February, the Examining Body published its formal invitation to the initial round of hearings and meetings on the application, commencing with the preliminary meeting on Tuesday 3 March 2026 at Woodbourne House, Douglas at 10am. The purpose of the preliminary meeting is to discuss the Examining Body’s procedure for the examination and enable those with an interest in the application to give their views on the examination procedure. The preliminary meeting is not an opportunity for individuals to share their views on the merits or demerits of an application and these will only be considered once the examination starts.

‘The close of the preliminary meeting formally commences the statutory examination stage. Throughout this period the Examining Body will rigorously probe, test and assess the contents of the application via written and oral evidence received in response to written questions or at hearings and meetings. The examination stage is primarily a written process, and hearings and meetings are held if the Examining Body feels it is necessary to examine an issue in further detail or provide the public with a platform to make their views known.

‘The examination period presents an opportunity for those with an interest in the application to make their views known, whether or not they previously responded to the public consultation. At the hearings and meetings held throughout this period anyone can register to have their say, provided they have given at least five working days’ notice of their intention to do so. All proceedings will be livestreamed, allowing people to attend virtually, with a recording of proceedings being published on mima.gov.im shortly afterwards.

‘The examination period is essential for the Examining Body to receive the evidence that will inform the recommendation(s) it makes to the Council of Ministers at the end of the process as to whether to grant or withhold consent. All documents received throughout this process will be published online at mima.gov.im.

‘Anyone with any further questions about the examination process should contact the Cabinet Office at MIMA.Applications@gov.im.’