Plans for onshore windfarm scaled back by a third

Developers have cut the number of turbines proposed for a major wind farm on moorland after reviewing feedback from residents and organisations.

Renewable energy firm Cubico Sustainable Investments has reduced the number of proposed turbines at Scout Moor II, between Rochdale and Rossendale, from 17 to 12. The site would be next to the existing Scout Moor wind farm.

The revised plans have been submitted to Rochdale and Rossendale councils and will now be subject to a further round of consultation before councillors whether to approve it.

Campaign group Friends of the Moorland said it was unlikely the revisions would address all of its concerns.

Steve Davison from the group said: "We need to review the plans in detail to come to a considered view but it's unlikely that all of our fundamental objections will have been addressed."

Each turbine could be up to 590ft (180m) tall, making them taller than Blackpool Tower.

The proposals previously prompted hundreds of objections and opponents warned of the impact on peatland, wildlife and the landscape.

Peter Rowe, project lead for Scout Moor II, said the changes were a direct response to feedback from residents and other organisations.

"We previously proposed 17 turbines and we're now coming down to 12," he said.

"It's not about building as many turbines as possible. It's always about a balance.

"We obviously want to maximise clean energy generation and secure energy generation, but equally it needs to be right for the place."

The company said the revised scheme would generate about 70MW of electricity while also removing turbines and infrastructure from the deepest areas of peat.

It said fewer turbines would be visible from nearby communities and key viewpoints, and the grid connection route had been altered to avoid Edenfield and Waterfoot villages.

"Hopefully, the community will see, when they see the visualisations, a considerable difference and a real improvement in the scheme," Rowe said.

"We hope people will feel like this is a genuine response to the conversation to improve the scheme."

Davison, from Friends of the Moorland, added: "We welcome the reduction, which we had predicted would happen all along."

But he added: "Even 12 180m-high turbines will have a devastating impact on the peat, wildlife and landscape views."

The revised plans will now be subject to a further 30-day consultation before being considered by planning committees in Rochdale and Rossendale.

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