Why has the Scout Moor wind farm saga spanned three decades?

Close to two decades ago, residents of the towns and villages near moorland straddling Greater Manchester and Lancashire were in uproar over plans to build a huge wind farm.

Twenty-six turbines were erected over a rural area between Rochdale and Rossendale in 2008 as part of the Scout Moor Wind Farm.

Campaigners in Rochdale, Edenfield and Rawtenstall blocked plans in 2011 to add more but now face a proposal by Cubico to expand the site to create England’s largest onshore wind farm.

Rochdale councillor James Gartside said there had been “strong opposition” to expansion in the past but the energy firm said the project would benefit the local community.

The latest proposal – dubbed Scout Moor II – would see 21 taller turbines built.

Each would be erected in an area to the east of the current installation and collectively could generate up to 100 MW,…