The UK government has rejected Peel Energy’s plans to extend the Scout Moor wind farm in Lancashire by 36.8MW.
The decision does grant planning permission for a two-turbine increase subject to certain conditions, including a revised moorland restoration and management plan.
However, plans were shot down for a further 14 machines that would have had a capacity of 2.3MW each and tip heights of 115 metres.
The government’s ruling overturns a decision by the local Rossendale and Rochdale councils, which had approved the plans in 2015.
The larger development was rejected because of its “adverse effect on the landscape character and visual amenity”.
The 14 rejected turbines would have been located in Rossendale, while the two approved will be built in Rochdale.
The existing project, operational since 2008, features 26 Nordex N80 2.5MW turbines with a total capacity of 65MW.
Image: Scout Moor (reNEWS)
Peel suffers Scout Moor setback
Government rejects 36.8MW extension, gives conditional approval to 4.6MW
By EBS