Peel sewage works recommended for approval

Plans will go before committee on 8 July

Plans for a new sewage treatment works in Peel will be recommended for approval when they go before the planning committee next Monday (8 July).

The documents were submitted in November, and the recommendation gives hope that the pumping of untreated sewage out to sea will come to an end.

If approved, the new proposed facility will be created in fields close to the Heritage Trail and adjacent to Peel Power Station.

Manx Utilities previously told Manx Radio it hopes to have spades in the ground in 2024, with construction expected to take around 18 months to two years.

In April, the MUA said of the project: 'Progress has not been as fast as was hoped or originally envisaged, with frustrating delays during land acquisition and mobilisation of off-island contractors. 

'The construction phase programme has been impacted significantly by shortages in the UK labour market with regard to the installation of specialist process equipment. We are arranging a meeting with the Commissioners to provide a more detailed update.'

Speaking at the time, Tim Woakes, Manx Utilities' Executive Director with Responsibility for Wastewater, said having both Peel and Garff sewage treatment works complete by the end of 2026 would depend on a 'smooth planning process'.

A similar project is underway in Garff however, like Peel, the plans have faced delays.

Manx Wildlife Trust's Head of Conservation David Bellamy shared these images of the eastern outflow pipe on X, taken 29 June:

The Garwick raw sewage outfall within the (supposedly) highly protected Laxey Bay Marine Nature Reserve @ 17:55, Sat 29 Jun ‘24 (32yrs after the announcement of a solution)!🚽When will this disrespectful treatment of our citizens & natural environment finally end?! @BiosphereIOM pic.twitter.com/Hj2jVxKhtf

— David Bellamy (@ManxNatureMan) July 2, 2024

In its latest update (5 June) the MUA said a planning application for the Garff treatment works would be submitted 'later in the year, once all land agreements are in place and public information events have been held'.