Garff Sewage Works: Planning submission pushed back to 2025

Following a number of delays, Manx Utilities says it's taken the next step towards developing a new wastewater treatment works for Garff.

The company has now formalised all of the private land agreements required for the intermediate pumping stations.

However, hopes to have the planning submission in by the end of this year have been dashed following delays this year with the associated legal agreements and issues acquiring off-Island contractors.

In its latest update Manx Utilities says it will, in the coming weeks, be "contacting landowners who will be impacted by pipeline routes, ahead of making all of the remaining details of the scheme public".

A public information event is now being planned to be undertaken later this year ahead of a planning submission next year.

In April the MUA said progress had not been as fast as was hoped, with "frustrating delays during land acquisition and mobilisation of off-island contractors".

And in June it said finalising legal agreements for the intermediate pump stations, was "regrettably" causing some delay.

The proposed site for the sewage works is at Axnfell, with pump stations at the Cairn, Glen Garwick and three intermediate pump stations.

Why is a sewage treatment work being built?

Like Peel bay, raw sewage is currently pumped out into the waters around Garff. 

Last year the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture published a report which identified Laxey and Garwick as having high levels of faecal organisms including E. coli.

It's an issue which has even attracted the attention of rockstar and activist Feargal Sharkey:

A Manx Utilities spokesperson told Manx Radio: “The securing of the land agreements is a positive step forward in delivering cleaner seas in Garff.

“This has taken longer than we would have liked, but it now allows us to progress with other landowner discussions and notifications and to commence the planning process in earnest.

“We are aiming for public exhibitions in November and hope that residents and businesses will attend to give their views.

"To provide time to carry out the necessary environmental impact work, undertake the necessary surveys and update any designs following the exhibition, we anticipate submitting the Planning application in the first quarter of next year.”