A proposed 91m meteorological mast on moorland to the north of Manchester may pave the way for the creation of England’s largest onshore wind farm, if authorities give the go-ahead. Cubico Sustainable Investments revealed plans last year for Scout Moor II, with 21 powerful wind turbines across the moors bridging Greater Manchester and Lancashire, adjacent to the already functioning 26-turbine wind farm at Scout Moor.
Before any decision on the Scout Moor II scheme, the renewable energy firm wants approval for a temporary mast to evaluate the environmental conditions of the site, shared by Rossendale and Rochdale.
Should both local councils agree, the mast is expected to stand for a maximum of three years. Specifications in the planning documents suggest that two years worth of wind data would be necessary before construction of the larger wind farm project can start.
The data collected by the mast would be crucial in helping Cubico to attract investment for the wind farm, projected to be operational by 2030.
The planning documentation states: “The monitoring data generated by the proposed met mast will assist in securing funding for the Scout Moor II wind farm from the selected turbine supplier, as well as supporting the construction and future operation of the wind farm.
Where the new Scout Moor II wind turbines could be built (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)“Two years of wind data are required before construction can begin. To achieve this, Cubico must secure separate planning permission for the temporary met mast in advance of the main Scout Moor II wind farm application.
“This approach ensures that if planning permission is granted for the Scout Moor II Wind Farm, the project can be delivered by 2030, aligning with the government’s Clean Power 2030 ambitions.”
Cubico has stated that the proposed Scout Moor II Wind Farm, which would operate independently from the existing Scout Moor site, could generate an estimated £200 million of investment and create hundreds of skilled green jobs. The new wind farm would have the capacity to power approximately 100,000 homes annually, meeting around 10% of Greater Manchester’s energy requirements, the developer says.
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