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Almost two decades ago residents in the towns and villages near moorland straddling Greater Manchester and Lancashire were left in uproar. Plans had been submitted to build 26 wind turbines on a large area between Rochdale and Rossendale. The Scout Moor Wind Farm project sparked the beginning of a turbulent saga that continues to this day.
Now, almost 20 years later, people in Rochdale, Edenfield, and Rawtenstall are faced with yet another plan for a wind farm – and this one is expected to be England’s biggest. What has been named "Scout Moor II" would see 21 bigger and more powerful wind turbines built next to the ones already standing on the moorlands. The Scout Moor wind farm near Rochdale (Picture: Cubico Sustainable Investments) They would be capable of powering around 100,000 homes per year, which is around 10 per cent of Greater Manchester’s needs, according to the renewable energy developer Cubico Sustainable Investments.
For the people of Norden, who live directly south of the current wind farm, this is all too familiar. It’s involved the type of battles between bitter rivals you would expect in a blockbuster film series. There have been winners and losers on both sides.
Local politician Cllr James Gartside has represented the village of Norden since the 1980s, and he’s not sure what the community’s response will be this time. Cllr James Gartside, of Rochdale Council Back in the mid-2000s when the first wind farm was tabled by Peel, the Norden councillor was among the many people opposing the plans in his area as well as other villages on the periphery of the moors. They even managed to rope in television presenter, author and environmental campaigner David Bellamy to stop the new turbines.
The campaigners feared the high level of concrete used to keep the turbines standing would have irreversible damage to the peatlands in the area. Despite their best efforts to stop Scout Moor Wind Farm happening, planning permission was granted in 2005 and construction started in 2007. However, when plans were submitted to double the wind farm’s size in 2011, campaigners were successful in getting it stopped.
“The opposition was still just as strong the second time around,” Cllr Gartside explained. “We managed to get that one stopped though.” Peel then launched plans for the second site.
Those plans never really got off the ground after that, but in 2015 a new scheme for 16 more turbines was submitted by Scout Moor Wind Farm Expansion Ltd (Episode III). Reports at the time said Peel Energy and United Utilities had put together a "scaled back" version of the 2011 plans – which created an outcry locally. This time the Conservative government got involved and brought in new planning rules that effectively ruled out new onshore wind farm developments.
Those rules have now been eased, so Scout Moor II marks the first major onshore wind farm development in England since the original plans were shelved a decade ago. Recently there has been a dramatic shift in support towards green power both in Whitehall and in the minds of the general public. The controversial coal mine plan in West Cumbria is a prime example in the last few years of how views have changed.
These plans for a coking coal mine provoked a strong backlash from local campaigners and leading government politicians. The push towards green energy is something the new Labour government is wanting to promote. Cubico Sustainable Investments, who have submitted the latest plans at Scout Moor, think their development is the answer.
How these plans will be received locally is something the renewable energy operator will come to learn in the coming months. Cubico claims this new wind farm, which is separately run to the current Scout Moor site, could be operational before 2030 and could generate an estimated £200m of investment and hundreds of skilled green jobs . Before any planning permission is considered, there will be consultation with residents on the matter, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understand.
The consultation will centre around the size and scale of the new turbines, so any specifics on the new turbines themselves will only be revealed later on down the line. Cubico have created an interactive map showing the majority of the 21 new wind turbines would be built on the eastern side of the moorlands. An interactive map showing where the new Scout Moor II wind turbines could be built (Picture: Cubico Sustainable Investments) The additional turbines would bring the total number on Scout Moor up to 47, although they would not all be run by the same operator.
The councillors who represent Norden are collectively pleased by the proactive approach Cubico is taking, they say. They are happy the company is involving the community in the plans with multiple rounds of consultation. For Cllr Gartside though, he is still less than keen on more turbines being built in his window view.
He is taking a pragmatic approach to this latest plan though, he said. If they have to be built, the community should reap some benefits from it, he said. He believes a community fund and/or peat restoration investment should be included.
“Now there is going to be another 21 planned, and they are going to be even taller,” Cllr Gartside said. “I would rather not have them, but if we do we would like to get a big community benefit from it.” Whether the fierce opposition Peel faced in the noughties will be repeated against Cubico is unclear, it could be that the next episode of this saga will be a less turbulent affair.
When the plans were unveiled, David Swindin, chief executive officer at Cubico, said: “Our proposal for Scout Moor II reflects our strong confidence in the UK renewables sector and Britain’s potential to become a global clean energy powerhouse. “We’re encouraged by the government’s vision to accelerate the build out of renewable energy infrastructure across the country, and we are committed to delivering projects that decarbonise our power system, enhance energy security, and benefit local communities.” Cubico currently operates over 250MW of wind and solar projects in the UK with a growing development pipeline, supporting the nation’s clean energy transition.
Scout Moor wind farm near Rochdale (Picture: Cubico Sustainable Investments) With plans to invest approximately £300m in new projects across various green technologies in the coming years, Cubico aims to further establish its position as a leading long-term developer, owner, and operator of renewable energy projects in the UK. James Pinney, head of Northern Europe at Cubico, added: “We’re excited about the opportunity for Scout Moor II to play a key role in helping the UK achieve its net zero ambitions and enhance the North West’s position as a national hub for clean energy generation. “As we progress, we’re looking forward to engaging with local communities and ensuring their participation helps shape a project that leaves positive social, economic and environmental benefits for all.
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