The Project
For every hectare affected by construction, 10 hectares will be restored
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For every hectare affected by construction, 10 hectares will be restored •
The Location
Scout Moor II is located on Scout Moor and Rooley Moor, an upland area between Bacup, Rochdale and Rawtenstall, straddling parts of Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
The site was chosen due to its strong and consistent wind speeds, existing access routes, and proximity to a suitable grid connection point.
Much of the area comprises open moorland and large parts of the site are designated as common land, with open access and a network of public rights of way, all of which will remain open during the construction and operation of the project.
Click on the orange hotspots below to see the viewpoints in more detail.
Norden
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Existing
Proposed
Rooley Moor
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Existing
Proposed
Whitworth
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Existing
Proposed
Bacup
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Existing
Proposed
Boarsgreave
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Existing
Proposed
Edenfield
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Existing
Proposed
The Wind Farm at a Glance
12 turbines generating enough clean energy to power thousands of homes
Turbines up to 180m tall
A new substation
Cables will run underground to reduce visual impact
Power will feed into the local grid at Rawtenstall
Access will be from Scout Road (A680), using the existing quarry entrance
Site access will not be from Rooley Moor Road
Moorland Restoration at a Glance
346 hectares
of damaged moorland will be restored
Supports carbon capture, wildlife, cleaner water, and flood resilience
Guided by a detailed Moorland Restoration and Management Plan
118 hectares fenced for active restoration, including re-wetting and replanting
228 hectares of common land improved through cutting and grazing plans
Restoration uses proven UK techniques and follows national guidance
For every hectare affected by construction, 10 hectares will be restored
Read our FAQs to find out more about Scout Moor II
How the Proposals Have Evolved
Public consultation has fundamentally shaped Scout Moor II.
When the project was first introduced in November 2024, Cubico was considering a scheme of up to 21 turbines. Following early feedback, engagement and ongoing technical assessment, the planning application submitted in 2025 was reduced to 17 turbines.
Since then, feedback from local communities, stakeholders and consultees has continued to influence the scale, layout and mitigation strategy of the project. As a result, the scheme has now been reduced further from 17 to 12 turbines and redesigned to reduce impacts in key areas.
The result is a smaller, more carefully designed and more locally responsive proposal. Turbines have been removed from more sensitive locations, the layout has been refined through consultation and further survey work, visual effects have been reduced from some viewpoints, and changes have been made to reduce effects on key access routes for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
Further information can be viewed here. We will continue to update residents and local groups and welcome ongoing conversations as the project moves forward.