Scout Moor II Met Mast Gets the Green Light

Proposals for England’s largest onshore wind farm have taken a step forward with the approval of a temporary meteorological (met) mast by Rossendale Council’s Development Control Committee.  

Cubico Sustainable Investments (“Cubico”) is bringing forward plans for Scout Moor II, a proposed onshore wind farm in Rossendale and Rochdale. Designed to generate up to 100MW of clean electricity, enough to power 100,000 homes annually, the project represents a major step toward the UK’s renewable energy ambitions while delivering meaningful environmental and community benefits.  

A met mast is a tower designed to collect wind and weather data, which is essential for assessing wind conditions to support the long-term operation of the proposed Scout Moor II wind farm. By collecting detailed wind data, the mast will provide critical insights into the prevailing environmental conditions within the potential development.  

Speaking about the approval of the met mast and Cubico’s wider ambitions for Scout Moor II, Peter Rowe, Development Manager at Cubico said: 

"We are pleased with the committee’s decision to approve the met mast, which is an important step in progressing our plans for Scout Moor II. We have recently completed our second round of public consultation with the local community and are grateful for the thoughtful feedback we have received so far. As we work towards the submission of a planning application in the Summer, we remain committed to open dialogue and ensuring that the project delivers long-term benefits for Rossendale, Rochdale and beyond.” 

The met mast will be located at Top of Leach, located outside Common Land and the Green Belt. It will be in place for two years and then fully decommissioned. Cubico will provide advance notification to residents and stakeholders before the met mast is deployed.