{"id":602664,"date":"2025-11-30T04:37:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-30T04:37:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/602664\/"},"modified":"2025-11-30T04:37:24","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T04:37:24","slug":"the-tranquil-hillside-perfect-for-a-weekend-stomp-but-it-has-become-a-battleground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/602664\/","title":{"rendered":"The tranquil hillside perfect for a weekend stomp, but it has become a battleground"},"content":{"rendered":"

‘I don\u2019t think they\u2019ll look that nice if they\u2019re going to be as high as Blackpool Tower.’\"TheThe roving hills as seen from Scout Moor with views of Manchester in the background(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Sunlight bounces off the light dusting of snow scattered across the moorlands that overlook Manchester, Rochdale<\/a> and the far reaches of Lancashire.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to believe this tranquil scene, without a soul in sight, is set to be the battleground between hardened campaigners and a wind turbine developer. Stepping onto a footpath off Edenfield Road, just past Norden, a bumpy route weaves towards the alternating white giants in the distance.<\/p>\n

Crunching through the frosty moors in bone-chilling temperatures, a late Autumn sunshine hits the shimmering white wind turbines that sit at the centre of a colossal debate.<\/p>\n

Scout Moor wind farm has dominated the skyline north of Manchester for two decades, now there is a plan to build 17 bigger, more powerful wind turbines on the cards. There are already 26 of the spinning electricity generators in operation on the hillside surrounded by Rochdale, Edenfield, Rossendale and Rawtenstall.<\/p>\n

\"ScoutScout Moor wind turbines(Image: Jason Roberts \/Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

Cubico Sustainable Investments, a renewable energy developer, wants to create ‘Scout Moor II’. This would see 17 new wind turbines up to 180m tall erected on the eastern side of Scout Moor, capable of generating 100MW of clean electricity, powering around 100,000 homes per year.<\/p>\n

Separate plans to expand the number of turbines on the moorlands have been tabled a few times in the last 15 years by different developers, but nothing has come of it. There is one group that wants yet another knock back to happen.<\/p>\n

The \u2018Say NO to Scout Moor 2\u2019 group is made up of activists from the community surrounding Scout Moor. Residents from Prickshaw, Norden, Rawtenstall, Edenfield as well as members of the Rooley Moor Neighbourhood Forum and Rossendale Civic Trust all make up this brigade.<\/p>\n

\"ScoutScout Moor wind turbines(Image: Jason Roberts \/Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n

These campaigners are seasoned veterans when it comes to pushing back against new turbines, with many in the group being part of the successful refusals of previous proposals. This begged the question as to what the average person would think about the latest scheme put forward by Cubico, which would be run separately to the current wind farm.<\/p>\n

To find answers, the Manchester Evening News<\/a> scaled Scout Moor to speak to walkers enjoying the plethora of nature it has to offer.<\/p>\n

\"SophieSophie Torbica’s dogs Rocco, Remi and Blue on Scout Moor(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Failsworth<\/a> resident Sophie Torbica was taking her trio of mischievous mastiffs for a wander. Rounding up Rocco, Blue and Remi for a photo, she told the M.E.N<\/a>: \u201cI\u2019ve come here once a week for six or seven years. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s an eyesore really.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut they\u2019re not always on. There are days when I think they should be working because it\u2019s so windy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI come here because it\u2019s nice, quiet and lovely. I understand why they have to dig down so deep into the peat to build them, but it\u2019s about whether the reason for doing it outweighs the benefits.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess I\u2019m on the fence with this. I will look more into this now I know about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The peaceful scenery is such a hidden gem that Sophie is the only human present on the moorside. The sheep seemed to like it up there, but offered little in the way of an opinion on wind turbines.<\/p>\n

\"NordenNorden village centre, Rochdale(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

To get more views, the M.E.N<\/a> headed down to the nearest Rochdalian area to Scout Moor – the village of Norden. Opinions on the wind farm expansion were divided, but the strength of feeling seemed minimal.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be honest, to us it doesn\u2019t make that much difference,\u201d Hilary Cachai explained. \u201cIf we lived right up there we probably wouldn\u2019t like it because you\u2019re taking up more of the land.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an eyesore isn\u2019t it really. So I suppose if you live over that way I wouldn\u2019t be happy about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just get used to them being there. Until you see a plan where they will be, you need to worry how they will look.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think they\u2019ll look that nice if they\u2019re going to be as high as Blackpool Tower.”<\/p>\n

\"HilaryHilary Cachai (left) in Norden village with Barbara Thompson(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Walking with Hilary, Barbara Thompson added: \u201cI think they\u2019re an eyesore as well, I would be against the development.\u201d<\/p>\n

Just down the main high street, two Norden locals are sitting with coffees outside Catherine\u2019s. They have a different mindset to Hilary and Barbara.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think they\u2019re an eyesore, I like the look of them,\u201d one said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get energy from somewhere haven\u2019t we.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s better than sending men down the coal pit like they used to. When you think back to what it was like when I was young when there was a thick smog, you could taste it because it was that thick.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want clean energy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her fellow pensioner added: \u201cI\u2019m not against them. I think it\u2019s lovely around there, I don’t go past thinking it\u2019s a blot on the landscape.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"RobertRobert Jackson, 59, from Bamford(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Another supporter of the project was Robert Jackson. The 59-year-old was on his way to pick up a newspaper from the shop when he stopped to talk about wind turbines.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cI don\u2019t mind them. I\u2019m on board with the idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not in anyone\u2019s way up there. At the moment I am happy with it, so what\u2019s 17 more really.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn’t like it if they said 217, but 17 doesn\u2019t seem a lot. I do actually like the look of them now I\u2019m looking at them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Back up Edenfield Road, just opposite the Co-op, Michael McNamara described how the general consensus amongst villagers was one of opposition to the idea of more turbines sitting on their horizon.<\/p>\n

\"MichaelMichael McNamara, 62, with his pooch Scout (Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Stood with border terrier Scout in tow, the 62-year-old told the M.E.N<\/a>: \u201cI don\u2019t think they should have any more up there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they\u2019re an eyesore, and I can see the point of renewables, but they\u2019re still an eyesore.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey could maybe have them further back so you can\u2019t see them from the road. Most people I speak to are against it in the local area.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say it\u2019s a strong feeling against them, but people just generally have a moan about them being an eyesore.\u201d<\/p>\n

The points of contention\"SaySay NO to Scout Moor 2 campaigners sat in Norden Old Library(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Campaigners fear these new turbines – up to 180m including blade tip height – would be larger than Blackpool Tower and dominate the skyline. It was on visual impact that the last Scout Moor extension application, proposed by Scout Moor Wind Farm Expansion Limited, was severely scaled down by the planning inspector back in 2017.<\/p>\n

The inspector, John Woolcock, recommended the Rossendale 14 wind turbines be refused and the two Rochdale turbines approved. However, those two turbines were never built.<\/p>\n

One of the group\u2019s biggest concerns is the destruction of the peatland during the construction of the turbines. Workers would have to dig through metres of peat in order to create enough space to build the turbine bases.<\/p>\n

So much peat loss is something Say NO to Scout Moor 2 feel is irreplaceable, despite Cubico\u2019s promise of a major moorland restoration scheme.<\/p>\n

In response, Cubico says that for every hectare of peatland affected by the wind farm, they will restore ten. That means 346 hectares of the most degraded moorland would be repaired, an area about three times the size of Manchester\u2019s Heaton Park<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cubico says this would be done through blocking historic drainage channels; replanting native mosses like sphagnum; and carefully reusing peat removed during construction. They have submitted a Moorland Restoration and Management Plan and an Outline Peat Management Plan to councils with further details.<\/p>\n

The campaign group is also sceptical as to how hundreds of jobs come from this project and benefit the local economy. According to Companies House, there are no employees at the existing Scout Moor wind farm – fueling speculation this newest wind farm would have a similar arrangement.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe wind turbines on Scout Moor(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Responding to this, a Cubico spokesperson said: \u201cDuring the roughly two-year construction phase, the project will support the equivalent of 210 full-time jobs – 60 of those local to Rossendale and Rochdale.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese include direct site jobs and wider supply chain roles, from civil works and haulage to environmental surveying and equipment supply.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter construction, the wind farm will be monitored and managed remotely, but we\u2019ll still employ a local asset management team and contract technicians to carry out inspections and maintenance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe peatland restoration and land management alone will create jobs over the full 40-year life of the project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finances and the sheer scale of this development is another key concern for campaigners. They believe Rochdale and Rossendale councils, who would have joint decision making powers on the matter, don\u2019t have the resources to deal with such a massive application.<\/p>\n

Steve Davison, a long-term campaigner within the group, believes Cubico are playing down the massive undertaking this project would be. He previously shared with the M.E.N<\/a> how he feels this location is just wrong.<\/p>\n

Cubico says the money will come from private investment by Ontario Teachers\u2019 Pension Plan and PSP Investments – another Canadian pension investment company. They will be bankrolling the \u00a3140 million required to build the project.<\/p>\n

About \u00a350 million of this is planned to go directly into the local and regional economy, benefiting businesses in construction, engineering, transport, and other services.<\/p>\n

Cubico has also proposed a long-term Community Wealth Fund, promising to deliver \u00a320 million over the lifetime of the wind farm. It would offer a guaranteed \u00a3600,000 per year, linked to inflation, and based on \u00a36,000 per MW of installed capacity.<\/p>\n

The fund will be managed by a newly formed and independent Scout Moor Development Trust, chaired by a community liaison group made up of local representatives. Its purpose is to invest money back into the local community.<\/p>\n

Last month \u2018Say NO to Scout Moor 2\u2019 issued a statement calling for more people to join their fight.<\/p>\n

Ultimately they are worried about the noise these turbines generate; what happens to the heritage and artefacts found in the area; as well as the matter of how they look.<\/p>\n

Timeline and next steps\"TheThe wind turbines on Scout Moor(Image: LDRS)<\/p>\n

Next month, Cubico will be attending the Norden Area Forum to speak about the latest developments with the wind farm.<\/p>\n

The planning application has been formally submitted to both Rochdale and Rossendale councils, who are the Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) responsible for determining the application.<\/p>\n

Cubico has pointed out that all representations should be directed to the LPAs – who act as the decision-makers and as the conduit for all correspondence. Cubico will then have to provide the necessary responses, additional information, or, where appropriate, amendments to the scheme.<\/p>\n

The renewable energy developers expect some form of changes being required in the scheme, meaning more consultation should be expected in early 2026. The current estimate for when the planning application would go before planning committees is in late 2026.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Cubico said previously: \u201cScout Moor II is a \u00a3200+ million, privately funded investment by Cubico that would deliver England\u2019s first new onshore wind farm in over a decade.<\/p>\n

\u201cGenerating enough homegrown electricity to power 100,000 homes annually, the project combines clean energy with one of the largest moorland restoration schemes in Northern England, repairing 346 hectares of degraded peatland.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlongside the environmental benefits, it will create over 200 construction jobs, contribute more than \u00a31million per annum in business rates for 40 years, and deliver a \u00a320 million Community Wealth Fund for Rossendale and Rochdale \u2013 a legacy of growth and local investment.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"‘I don\u2019t think they\u2019ll look that nice if they\u2019re going to be as high as Blackpool Tower.’The roving…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":602665,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,393,728,4884,1804,2465,34161,285,1170,1171,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-602664","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-environment","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-lancashire","13":"tag-manchester","14":"tag-norden","15":"tag-politics","16":"tag-rochdale","17":"tag-rochdale-council","18":"tag-uk","19":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115636800948550445","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/602664","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=602664"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/602664\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/602665"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=602664"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=602664"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=602664"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}