29th October 2007

Two proposed wind farm schemes for Todmorden Moor, in Calderdale, and Reaps Moss, in Rossendale, were deemed "acceptable" in landscape and visual terms by Lancashire County Council Special Landscape Advisor. As the two sites lie on either side of the county boundary, the two councils made a joint effort to assess the visual impact and so requested an assessment of the impacts to the landscape from the Specialist Advisor.

The assessment covered the individual and cumulative impacts of both the Todmorden Moor proposal of five 125 metre high turbines and the Reaps Moss proposal of three 125 metres high turbines. The specialist advisor reported that "the proposed wind farm at Todmorden Moor would in my opinion be acceptable in landscape and visual terms" and also that "the proposed wind farm at Reaps Moss would in my opinion be acceptable in landscape and visual terms". Together, "Todmorden Moor and Reaps Moss wind farms would be acceptable in combination".

Coronation Power is the company behind the two proposed wind farms which would together generate 24MW of clean, sustainable electricity. Building the wind farms would contribute to local, national and international targets of generating renewable energy to tackle the harmful effects of climate change. The report will assist the planning officers who are due to make an application recommendation to the councils at any day.

The report further notes that: "Todmorden Moor is a fascinating harsh and rugged historic landscape that owes much of its landscape character to many years of man's activities including agriculture, transport and resource extraction particularly for power generation. The proposed wind farm would be a temporary feature that added a new chapter to the landscape's industrial history."

The Reaps Moss site was also noted as acceptable for a wind farm development. "A number of man-influenced features are evident on land surrounding the site. These include transmission lines, industrial development, quarrying, intrusive access tracks and new housing development." The report goes on to state that: "The harsh, rugged and to some extent spoilt landscape shares similarities of landscape character with Todmorden Moor. Also, the landscape lacks the sense of remoteness and wild character evident at nationally designated upland areas such as the Forest of Bowland AONB."

Coronation Power's Public Relations Officer Danielle Milne says, "There seems to be every reason to approve these wind farm proposals. Both are exceptional schemes which meet stringent sustainable development requirements and rigorous environmental impact laws. These proposals are a viable solution to help meet the local renewable energy targets as set by national government. It's such a well-balanced opportunity and we look forward to hearing the recommendation."