What we can expect in 2025

We take a look at what's promised for this year

You may have heard our News Review of 2024 on Manx Radio over the Christmas period.

We put together a round-up of all the biggest events of last year, set to a soundtrack of hits from across the last 12 months.

You can give it a listen back HERE.

But what can we expect to see making the headlines this year?

Let's take a look forward, shall we?

CHANGES

We could see doctors on strike this year after members of the British Medical Association voted in favour of industrial action just before Christmas.

The pay dispute relates to the 2023-24 financial year, with the BMA seeking a 12.6% uplift.

Minimum wage may align with living wage on the Island - if government sticks to a commitment in the Island Plan to transition minimum wage to the living wage by April this year.

The Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority is to consult on current gas prices and intends to complete its work in the first half of 2025.

Changes could be made to the Sea Services Agreement (the contract between the Steam Packet and government which sets out what services the company has to provide).

The Regulation of the Steam Packet Company committee made a number of conclusions and recommendations last year, which included asking Tynwald to consider the practicalities of transitioning the Steam Packet to a statutory board, or for Treasury to consider how to enhance its oversight of the company, reporting back by the end of 2025.

It's last call for the users of MiCards, as the system - which allows people to collect their benefits or pension in cash at Isle of Man Post Office branches - is to end on 31 December.

And it's going to cost you more to send a letter this year, as the Isle of Man Post Office has introduced a new ‘pricing model’.

From 13 January it will cost 90 pence to send a local-to-local letter and £1 to send a letter to the UK (it currently costs 85 pence).

PROJECTS

Headlines in the last couple of years have been dominated by new boats and terminals, promenades and roundels.

But what about the other projects that have been promised for several years?

We finally saw progress in 2024 on plans to build a sewage treatment works out West, with planning permission approved, then challenged, and then approved again for a plant in Peel.

Manx Utilities will this year press ahead with the build, with construction hoped to start in late February or early March.

If all goes to plan the new centre could be up and running by the end of 2027.

As for Garff - it's hoped plans will be submitted for a treatment works there some time this year.

Back in 2023, there was talk of a certain southerner returning home... but with the funding for a major redevelopment still unsecured, will the Peggy sail closer to Castletown in 2025?

In the capital, construction is set to begin on a hotly contested Douglas site.

Villiers Square will soon be home to a Travelodge, after the company agreed a 30-year lease with the developer last year.

Meanwhile, plans for the Parade Street site look set to advance too, with a planning application expected for a new multi-storey car park on the site in Douglas in the first half of the year.

Moving away from the capital, a divisive sculpture could be St John's bound later this year if planning permission is approved for the work by renowned Manx artist Bryan Kneale.

The plan is for the artwork to be erected in the Tynwald National Park and Arboretum, close to the fairground wall.

The Eelips project is expected to cost £96,984 in total and it's hoped it will be completed by mid-2025.

Out at sea, there's been promises of a planning application for the Isle of Man's first potential offshore wind farm.

Ørsted has been working towards submitting the plans this year, so that the world's largest offshore renewable energy developer can have a wind farm up and running in Manx waters by the early 2030s.

And looking south again - will ground actually be broken this year on the elusive new Castle Rushen High School?

We wouldn't necessarily hold our breath for that one.

Even with funding secured for the development of plans for the project in last year's February budget, as of November, the treasury minister said there is still a ‘relatively large amount of work’ to be done before they are taken to Tynwald for funding approval, and the latest department plan from the Department of Education, Sport and Culture revealed plans were still vague.

ENTERTAINMENT

Elsewhere, there are changes afoot in the world of entertainment.

Fancy a prosecco with your musical? 

Well, you'll be able to toast the Gaiety Theatre's 125th birthday this year with a drink in your seat from February.

But you'll also see your ticket price rise, as a new booking fee system comes into play this Friday (10 January).

If you want to watch a show from the comfort of your own home, our own Samantha Barks will be gracing the stage as Elsa in Frozen, streaming on Disney+.

And as for cheering on Manx talent, Joe Locke is up for two major international awards this February (good luck Joe!).

Meanwhile, if art's more your bag, the world’s largest exhibition of works by Archibald Knox is set to go on display right here on the Isle of Man, opening at Easter.

It will form part of a wider ‘Isle of Knox’ campaign, supported by the Isle of Man Government’s Visit Isle of Man Agency, with associated events, walks and talks dedicated to exploring the life and works of Archibald Knox.

And 2025 marks the 60th Anniversary of the Isle of Man Arts Council!

SPORT

Sports fan? There's a whole host of things to look forward to this year.

The usual suspects will be back; with the TT (26 May - 7 June), the Parish Walk (21 June), Southern 100 (7 July - 10 July) and Manx Grand Prix (17 August - 29 August) all lined up in our calendars this summer.

Making a return this year though is the Classic TT, which will take place alongside the MGP as part of an expanded 12-day schedule.

And that's not all - this year marks the 70th Anniversary Year of the Southern 100 Road Races, with a whole host of celebrations planned to mark the milestone between 7 and 10 July! 

It's an Island Games year, with the contest taking place in Orkney this time around.

Unfortunately, this year's 10th edition of the Gran Fondo Isle of Man (19-20 July) will be its last on Manx shores.

Whilst the reasons for the decision are not entirely clear there's said to be 'mixed emotions' over the decision.

And speaking of  cycling, there'll be a change of pace for one Sir Mark Cavendish, who's hanging up his bike for running shoes.

We'll be able to cheer him on in France again as he's hoping to run the Paris Marathon this year after retiring from professional cycling.

POLITICS

Love an election? This year's for you!

The next Local Authority General Election will take place on Thursday 24 April.

Meanwhile nationally, we'll see some changes in the Legislative Council, which has its own election on 4 March.

The application period closes later this week, on 9 January, with a conference on 24 January.

MHKs then have until 13 February to propose or second their preferred candidates, before hustings which are planned for 24 February followed by the election on 4 March.

Meanwhile in terms of policy; there have been a few ideas thrown around in recent years with a delivery date of 2025.

These include a new health levy in this year's Budget.

Last February, Treasury published a 2024-26 Tax Strategy which stated it was working on a new levy on income to provide ring fenced revenues for the health service, with a view to completing the legislation by December 2024, to be applied for the 2025-26 financial year.

Government proposals aimed at incentivising and disincentivising inward migration to the Isle of Man are expected by May.

In October, a report was brought to Tynwald outlining both short-term and long-term actions to attract workers and address population challenges.

The court asserted that the Council of Ministers should update it 'by way of a statement in January 2025 and should submit to Tynwald a further report, with recommendations, in time for a debate at the May 2025 sitting'.

We may see moves towards an 'all-Island leisure rate' this year, with the money ringfenced to pay for the regional swimming pools.

Ramsey MHK Lawrie Hooper is bringing a motion to Tynwald this month asking Treasury to report to Tynwald by March 2025 with a timetable for the introduction of the rate before the end of the current administration.

In the last decade, plans were put forward to bolster the Island's food and drink industry.

The government's 2015 Food Matters strategy aimed to 'boost the food retail and export markets of the sector by £50 million over the next decade'.

However, the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture unveiled a different series of ambitious plans towards the end of last year.

Minister Clare Barber set goals to achieve a 10 percent increase in locally produced food by December 2028, close 90 percent of skills gaps in food production by 2026, and expand food storage capacity by 15 percent within the same timeframe.

Manx Radio has contacted DEFA for an update on the status of the 2015 strategy and is awaiting a response.