Malew MHKs welcome investment in airport ‘technology gateway’

The promise of a £2.1 million investment in developing a ‘technology gateway’ around Ronaldsway Airport has been met with enthusiasm by Malew politicians.

The Department for Enterprise has allocated cash from the Economic Development Fund to be spent on a ‘high-quality landscaped business park’ connecting Balthane, the Freeport and Ronaldsway.

Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHKs Jason Moorhouse and Graham Cregeen have both welcomed the development, which has been in the pipeline since 2015.

It’s understood that the initiative failed to progress sooner due to a lack of agreement between the departments of enterprise and infrastructure over who should fund the scheme.

When questioned on the scheme in Tynwald last month, Enterprise Minister Lawrence Skelly said developing an ‘economic zone’ around the airport is key to competing with business parks in the U.K.

He hinted that a master-plan, explaining the details of the proposed gateway will be published in due course.

The idea was first mooted in 2015 by the then-chief minister Alan Bell, to encourage inward investment.

Malew Commissioners have also welcomed the announcement, and are looking forward to seeing a scheme progress after years of discussion.