Plans submitted for England’s largest onshore wind farm in a decade
Cubico Sustainable Investments’ £200m Scout Moor Two comprises 17 turbines and could power 77% of homes across Rochdale and Rossendale.
Cubico has submitted its plans for the project, the first onshore wind scheme to come forward in England since the government’s de facto ban on the technology was lifted, to both Rochdale and Rossendale councils.
At full capacity, the wind farm could generate 100MW of clean electricity, capable of powering 100,000 homes every year from the southern Pennines – the largest of any such facility in England.
Cubico has stated that a large-scale moorland restoration programme, covering 10 times the area used for turbines, is part of the project, aiming to mitigate biodiversity loss and environmental damage.
The restoration programme will also reduce flood risk and help the land store more carbon, Cubico has said.
Cubico has also backed a community wealth fund, which would deliver £20m to the local area over the windfarm’s lifespan. It is expected that this figure will equate to £600,000 a year.
The fund is to be managed by the newly created and independent Scout Moor Development Trust.
Peter Rowe, development manager at Cubico, said: “Scout Moor Two is a chance for Rossendale and Rochdale to lead the UK into a clean energy future – creating jobs, supporting the local economy, and backing Britain by producing more secure, homegrown energy.
“We’ve been listening closely to what people have told us during the consultation process, and we’re grateful to everyone who has taken the time to engage with us.”
He continued: “We understand that new developments like Scout Moor Two raise important questions, and that local communities must see real and lasting benefits. We’re committed to working closely with the councils, community groups, and residents as the process moves forward.”
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Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, added: “Research by Cambridge Econometrics has shown we need around £7bn a year of private sector investment in energy generation technologies across the North to meet future energy demand, create skilled jobs in supply chains, and fulfil our net zero commitments.
“This project will help meet the growing electricity needs of both Lancashire and Greater Manchester over the coming decades to charge electric vehicles, power heat pumps, and support industry.
“Onshore wind will help cut bills by reducing our reliance on gas, which, as the war in Ukraine demonstrated, leaves families and businesses vulnerable to global price shocks.
“It is possible to strike the right balance between the concerns of local communities and protecting nature while delivering the energy infrastructure we all depend on.”
The existing Scout Moor comprises 26 wind turbines at a height of 100 metres from the ground to the blade tip.
Scout Moor Two will be located next to the existing facility to take advantage of established infrastructure and grid connectivity.
The project team includes Turley, Fluid, Dulas, Stephenson Halliday, Pell Frischmann, AOC Archaeology, Air Quality Consultants, Atmos, TNEI, Virtual Planit, EGIS, Lexington, and Charlotte Leach Communications.
