Fifteen 400-foot wind turbines will be built after controversial plans were given the green light.

Government inspectors gave the go-ahead for two wind farms near Rochdale and Bacup, despite strong opposition from conservation groups and local planners.

They opposed the scheme last year, saying the turbines would be unsightly and too close to rural communities.

But developers Coronation Power appealed to the government's planning inspectorate in February.

The power company has now been granted permission to build at Crook Hill, two miles north of Rochdale town centre, and Reaps Moss, near Bacup.

Twelve turbines will go up at Coronation's 'flagship' Crook Hill site. Three generators will be at Reaps Moss.

Each of the turbines will, at 410ft, be taller than Manchester's CIS Tower which stands almost 390ft.

Conditions

The planning inspector ruled that detailed conditions - including environmental and traffic management issues - must be met before work can start.

Rochdale council expressed dismay at the decision, saying it would harm greenbelt and was not `visually acceptable'.

But Coronation Power managing director Vikram Mirchandani thanked the planning inspectorate for their decision and said the farms overall would provide power for about 22,500 homes.

A spokesman for Friends of the South Pennines, a campaign group opposing the scheme, said: "We're disappointed and deflated. We felt the applications didn't meet the planning permission, and we don't think there was a proper consultation by Coronation Power.

"There are still an awful lot of people who don't realise just how big these turbines are."

Peter Rowlinson, head of planning and regulation at Rochdale council, said: "This decision has been taken against the wishes of the local community.

"The secretary of state acknowledged that the Crook Hill wind farm will harm greenbelt land and have adverse impacts on other planning issues in the local area, and we are now looking at whether or not there are grounds for a further appeal."