Infrastructure minister David Cretney has written to developers of a planned wind farm in the Irish Sea, outlining the Manx government's concerns about the impact it could have on the Island's economy.

In a letter to Centrica Mr Cretney stresses the need to maintain essential shipping lanes to and from the Island.

He says any increased journey time caused by permanent deviations to existing routes could have a 'significant impact' on the Manx economy, damaging the competitiveness of Island businesses trading with the UK and Europe.

Mr Cretney also raises the Island's responsibility for fisheries conservation and bio diversity, and calls on Centrica to consider the impact of development on basking sharks, dolphins and other migratory species in the Irish Sea.

Centrica's due to begin a formal consultation process soon, before an application for its first development area is submitted next year.

Mr Cretney says his department is working with the departments of Economic Development and Environment to ensure the Isle of Man gains overall benefit from renewable energy projects, including wind farms, both inside and outside Manx territorial waters.