A large digital advertising board dubbed ‘The Wing’ is to be installed at a roundabout at Isle of Man Airport.

The island’s planning committee unanimously approved the application (25/00708/D) at its meeting this week.

The wing-shaped digital billboard will be installed at the first roundabout on the approach to the airport.

It will be around 7.23m high with a display screen measuring some 5.1m in width and 2.64m in height mounted centrally within a curved architectural support frame.

Applicant Tim Groves, of Billboards.im, said 100% of the costs are privately funded with no requirement for taxpayers’ money to be invested.

Mr Groves said the project had the full support of the airport board.

In its planning statement, the applicant said: ‘This proposal outlines a fully privately funded, long-term infrastructure investment that introduces a high-quality digital asset at a key gateway to the Isle of Man.

‘The scheme will generate a sustainable new revenue stream for the airport while enhancing the visual and commercial environment of Ronaldsway.’

Recommending approval, senior planning officer Jason Singleton said: ‘The structure has been specifically designed for the airport setting and is intended to function as a landmark gateway feature.

‘Whilst the proposal is undoubtedly commercial in nature, it is considered to represent a high-quality piece of bespoke infrastructure rather than a standard roadside hoarding.’

The screen will use LED technology with ambient light sensors, automatic brightness adjustment and can be monitored remotely. There will be no moving images.

Some questions had been raised over whether the operation of a large digital advertising display would create an unacceptable distraction to motorists approaching the roundabout. But the highways division did not raise any safety concerns.

A condition of the planning approval will be that ‘The Wing’ will not be in operation outside the airport’s opening hours.