Peel outlines Scout Moor expansion

Rochdale and Rossendale Councils have received planning applications for the erection of 16 additional wind turbines at Scout Moor Wind Farm between Rawstenstall and Edinfield, alongside the restoration of 3.5 square miles of peat moorland.

Scout Moor is the UK's second-largest onshore wind farm and is a joint venture between United Utilities and Peel Energy. The application was submitted by Turley on behalf of the JV.

The additional turbines, together with the 26 existing, will have a total installed generating capacity of 104MW and will generate enough electricity to meet the needs of 20,000 homes each year.

The restoration of the peat moorland plan is a key part of a benefits package submitted as part of the application and will see enhanced levels of vegetation cover and biodiversity. The functionality of the peat will be restored meaning that it shall once again begin to sequester carbon dioxide.

Scout Moor is also providing a community benefit fund to the value of up to £5m over the lifetime of the development, and is establishing a community co-operative which will allow members of the local community to own shares in the project.

Mark Worcester, director at Turley, said: "The proposals have been the subject to extensive pre-application consultation with the local community and other stakeholders and have been revised considerably in response to the feedback received. The final scheme is sensitively designed and will deliver a number of significant benefits both environmentally and the local community."

If approved in July 2015, the extended wind farm will become operational in 2017.