DETAILED plans for a £50 million wind farm on moorland between Edenfield and Whitworth have been unveiled.

If given the go-ahead, 26 three-bladed turbines, measuring 100 metres from base to blade tip height, would generate enough power to supply the average needs of more than 50,000 homes.

It would play a key role in helping the North West to achieve its renewable energy target set by the Government.

United Utilities and Peel Holdings have joined forces to spearhead the "green" Scout Moor Wind Farm development. The proposed location identified for the turbines, capable of generating 65 megawatts of electricity, is on the moors between Rawtenstall and Rochdale, including Scout Moor and Knowle Moor.

The 26 turbines would be carefully sited to reduce visual impact, avoiding prominent areas such as Knowle Hill.

Within the next few weeks, the developers will submit their application for consent to the Government which will then consult with the relevant local planning authorities.

Both United Utilities and Peel Holdings, which have formed a joint venture partnership, originally announced proposals for the wind farm last summer. Since then, they have consulted with more than 50 organisations and listened to their views before drawing up final proposals.

They have also carried out a detailed environmental impact assessment which looked at the potential impact of the development on the landscape, its wildlife and local communities.

Paul Hunt, business development manager for Scout Moor Wind Farm, said: "We must reduce our reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas. When these are burned, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

"Wind power can provide clean, green, safe electricity without producing harmful emissions and it exploits a natural resource we have plenty of in East Lancashire, wind."

If approved, the turbines would generate enough electricity each year to supply the average needs of about 51,000 homes: 60 per cent of the householders in Rochdale borough and more than all of the households in Rossendale.

At a Press conference in Haslingden on Tuesday, United Utilities' Green Energy managing director Mr Doug Coleman said: "This development will supply 30 per cent of the North West's renewable energy target.

"As far as the response from the local authorities has been so far, they've been waiting to see what the proposals actually looked like."

If the wind farm is approved, it should be constructed and be up and running by 2005. The turbines would have a lifespan of 25 years and after that period would be decommissioned and dismantled.

Exhibitions detailing the plans will be held in Heywood and Rawtenstall on June 13 and June 14 respectively.