Onshore wind

Summary

The requester sought contracts, meeting minutes, and landowner exclusion records regarding onshore wind site selection by Wardell Armstrong. Manx Utilities disclosed the approved scope of work but confirmed it does not hold minutes or specific documents on landowner invitations, citing Section 11(3)(a) of the Act.

Key Facts

• Manx Utilities did not provide specific criteria to Wardell Armstrong; instead, Wardell Armstrong's proposal was approved.
• The authority does not hold minutes of meetings where land selection criteria were discussed or agreed upon.
• No documents exist showing whether private landowners were specifically invited or excluded from the process.
• Wardell Armstrong reviewed all suitable land locations, including both private and public sites.
• The final site selection audit report will be published as part of a future Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Data Disclosed

• 2025-06-24
• 2025-07-22
• 4742002
• Section 11(3)(a)
• 2022

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015

Original Request

A copy of the contract, scope of work, or terms of reference issued to Wardell Armstrong in relation to site selection or feasibility studies for onshore wind energy on the Isle of Man Minutes or notes of meetings where the criteria for land selection were discussed or agreed upon. Any documents showing whether private landowners were invited or excluded from the site selection process. Both pre and post Wardell Armstrong engagement.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Manx Utilities PO Box 177, Douglas Isle of Man, IM99 1PS

e: enquiries@manxutilities.im t: 01624 687687 www.manxutilities.im

Our ref: 4742002 22 July 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 24 June 2025, which states:

"A copy of the contract, scope of work, or terms of reference issued to Wardell Armstrong in relation to site selection or feasibility studies for onshore wind energy on the Isle of Man

Minutes or notes of meetings where the criteria for land selection were discussed or agreed upon.

Any documents showing whether private landowners were invited or excluded from the site selection process."

Following clarification, you confirmed that the following requests were related to pre and post Wardell Armstrong (WA) engagement by Manx Utilities (MU):

Minutes or notes of meetings where the criteria for land selection were discussed or agreed upon.

Any documents showing whether private landowners were invited or excluded from the site selection process.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Utilities does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested.

I have detailed below the information that is held.

A copy of the contract, scope of work, or terms of reference issued to Wardell Armstrong in relation to site selection or feasibility studies for onshore wind energy on the Isle of Man.

Manx Utilities (MU) did not provide any criteria to Wardell Armstrong (WA) regarding the site selection process. WA issued a proposal detailing the following approach to site selection which was approved by MU:

A copy of the final site selection audit report will be included in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which will be published as part of MU’s future planning application.

Minutes or notes of meetings where the criteria for land selection were discussed or agreed upon.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Utilities does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested in line with Section 11(3)(a) of the Act.

MU does not hold any minutes of meetings where the criteria for land selection were discussed or agreed upon however to assist, MU have published the following documents on our website that may prove helpful:

Manx Utilities, Energy Transition, Wind, Reports:

https://www.manxutilities.im/energy-transition/wind/reports/

• Renewable Feasibility Study

https://www.manxutilities.im/media/2725/2022-renewable-feasibility-study- redacted.pdf

• Phase 1 Environmental & Technical Feasibility Studies

https://www.manxutilities.im/media/2750/phase-1-report-onshore-windfarm-feasibility- assessment.pdf

• Decision Making Documents

ODM – Onshore Wind Site Selection part 1

https://www.manxutilities.im/media/2684/transition-decision-making-002-onshore- wind-site-selection.pdf

ODM – Onshore Wind Project Site Selection – Part 2

https://www.manxutilities.im/media/2777/transition-decision-making-002-onshore- wind-project-site-selection-part-2.pdf

Any documents showing whether private landowners were invited or excluded from the site selection process.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Utilities does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested in line with Section 11(3)(a) of the Act.

MU does not hold any information showing whether private landowners were invited or excluded from the site selection process. To assist we can confirm that WA reviewed all suitable land locations during their site selection process including private and public sites.

A copy of the site selection audit report will be included in the EIA which will be published as part of MU’s future planning application.

Please quote the reference number 4742002 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision.

More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.