The Department of Infrastructure will be seeking approval at the October sitting of Tynwald for a scheme to create a new ‘brownfield’ site at the former abattoir in Tromode.

The former abattoir was decommissioned in February of this year after all operations had been transferred to the new Animal Waste Processing Plant. The vacant site remains the responsibility of the Department with the remaining buildings being in a dilapidated and unsafe condition. The Department is therefore proposing a scheme to demolish the buildings and create a ‘brownfield’ site with improved road access. The works will comprise of:

• Pre-demolition enabling works to create the base for improved road access onto Ballafletcher Farm Road using recycled materials from the site
• Demolition of the remaining buildings
• Backfilling all voids
• Clearance of the site ready for any future development

Minister for Infrastructure, David Cretney MHK said: ‘Now that all of the operations undertaken by the abattoir have been transferred to the Animal Waste Processing Plant the site in its present condition is life expired and unfit for purpose. Under this scheme the site will be made available for re-utilisation or alternatively be sold as a prime ‘brownfield’ site with its value significantly increased by these demolition and clearance works.’

If approved the works will commence in November with a planned completion date of February 2013.The cost of the proposed works is £178,000 which when completed is estimated to bring an increase in value of over £300,000.