Twenty-six turbines could be built on Scout Moor

The proposal for 26 wind turbines on Scout and Knowl Moors, put forward by Peel Holdings, has met with opposition from local residents.

United Utilities was involved in the plans, but has now sold its stake in the windfarm between Edenfield and Whitworth, near Rochdale.

The inquiry is due to look at new government advice on wind turbines.

'Untouched' landscape

The 80m-high turbines would generate 65 megawatts of electricity which would then be fed into the national grid. It would provide electricity for the equivalent of 51,000 homes - 60% of the households in Rochdale.

The �50m project will also have a linked community trust to invest �1m into local projects over the course of the windfarm's operational life.

Objections by the Friends of Scout and Knowl Moor include problems with increased traffic, damage to an untouched landscape and the noise of the turbines as their blades turn in the wind.