New HQ building nearing completion

Woodchips are proving an efficient source of fuel for the new headquarters of a department of the Manx Government.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is relocating to a purpose built HQ in St John's early next year.

The building wilI bring together six different divisions of DAFF under one roof.

Although the project has cost more than £5 million, substantial savings in overhead costs are promised, from rental to manpower.

Heating costs will be reduced too, thanks to the use of a woodchip-powered boiler, using chips from DAFF's own sawmill nearby.

Woodchips are a home-grown, renewable source of fuel, and DAFF chief executive Colin Kniveton says expects to see more use made of them in future: