Peel NRE is bringing forward proposals for a new medicinal cannabis facility, science innovation and research centre, and sustainable energy park located on land at Cooil Road, Braddan.

The site would include a combination of laboratory research and development and crop cultivation spaces, which would seek to position the Island a world leader in this field. The development will also be served through a new solar farm, generating clean energy to power the site.

The site is located to the west of Cooil Road (A6), north of New Castletown Road (A5), and on the western edge of Douglas. It is adjacent to Eden Park business park and Spring Valley Industrial Estate and in close proximity to the airport in the South.

In 2019, the Isle of Man Government undertook an extensive public consultation across the Island to determine the support or otherwise for the introduction of new laws to allow cannabis to be grown for medicinal use.

The consultation resulted in 95% of all respondents indicated a preference in favour of the cultivation and processing the plant for medicinal purposes, provided it was appropriately regulated.

Considering this “very strong support”, Tynwald unanimously backed the legalisation of the production and exportation of cannabis products on the Island in January 2021, recognising that a new industry could be a key contributor to the Isle of Man’s post-Covid economy recovery.

In the past two decades access to medical cannabis has rapidly expanded globally, following growing awareness and evidence of its therapeutic benefits. In mainland UK medical cannabis use is legal as long as it is prescribed by a doctor on a specialist register. In November 2020, the National Health Service confirmed that it is planning a clinical trial of cannabis oil in 2021, and although research is still ongoing, the preliminary evidence suggests that non-psychoactive cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannadinol (THC), are effective in treating many physical, emotional, and mental health conditions.

The development has been brought forward in accordance with the regulations approved by the Tynwald which allows commercial operators to produce medical cannabis products. Currently, the Department of Health and Social Care have awarded a licence for the importation and dispensing of cannabis based products for medicinal use to Karsons Pharmacy, which will run on a 12 month pilot basis. This means residents with private prescriptions for medicinal cannabis products will be able to have their prescriptions fulfilled locally for the first time. For more information click here. In the future, we hope the facility would be able to contribute to local distribution of cannabis-derived products.

Access into the site would be from the new roundabout off Cooil Road located adjacent to the Jackson’s car dealership. Upon arriving at the site, visitors will be ‘screened’ by security and directed toward the appropriate building.

Alternatively, visitors would be directed to designated bays    relevant to each individual Science Innovation and Research building. HGVs would be held at the gatehouse for  security checks ahead of registration and then granted access into the facility. Sufficient manoeuvring space would be provided to allow HGVs to turn and exit using forward gear only.

The Development Brief requirements require a number of environmental matters to be appropriately assessed within any submission. This includes seeking to ensure no net qualitative loss of biodiversity; consideration of the existing high pressure gas pipeline; and preparation of an Environmental  Impact Assessment (EIA). We have agreed the content of the EIA with the Department and that we are co-ordinating with adjacent development promoters (i.e., Hartford Homes).

Appropriate security fencing would be installed to maintain the high levels of security required by the nature of the development. Peel NRE will work with officers from the Isle of Man Planning Service to determine the appropriate specification of any fencing used in order to ensure that it is both fit for purpose and is also sensitive to the local environment. CCTV poles would also be erected which would facilitate remote visibility controlled from the Science Innovation and Research Centre Control Room.

Prior to entering the Cannabis Cultivation Facility, vehicles would be required to pass through a security barrier manned by security personnel housed within a single-storey gatehouse. HGVs, for example, would be held at the gatehouse for security checks ahead of registration and then granted access into the facility.

Yes – The Peel Group has a long-standing connection with the Isle of Man. Our principal shareholders have been resident on the Island for more than 40 years, making the decision to develop here an easy one.

The facility would deliver a range of employment opportunities for the community, with some available in Phase 1 of the scheme, such as security, administration, and ground maintenance roles. Once fully built, the development would unlock a significant number of quality technical jobs for Islanders that have been trained and have the qualifications in the relevant fields. These employment opportunities would include botanists, technicians, security personnel, maintenance roles, marketing and communications, and office positions.

Alongside the delivery of high tech, quality jobs, there will also be opportunities for local businesses during the construction phase, who will work in tandem with industry specialists. Once operational, there will be further supply chain opportunities across a range of contracts from non-specialist equipment supply to site operations and maintenance.

If approved, the development would seek to unlock learning and research partnerships with local education institutions and public bodies, acting as a catalyst for on-Island medicinal cannabis education, upskilling, and employment opportunities. Islanders would also get the opportunity to work side by side with industry experts from across the globe.

Are you interested in working at the future Science Innovation and Research Centre? Click here to register for updates on our development.

Peel NRE applied for planning consent for the final proposals in June 2022. The reference is 22/00678/B and can be accessed via this link. This will be discussed and determined by Tynwald and we expect a decision early 2023. If we are successful, we would hope to start construction on site by Autumn 2023, lasting for approximately 9 months.

If you operate a business or organisation and you are interested in partnering with us, please click here to fill out a form to register your interest.