A 15-METRE high wind turbine could great visitors to a new enterprise centre.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has submitted a planning application for the urban wind turbine' situated next to its new eco-friendly Blackburn Enterprise Centre in Audley.

The device will supply energy to the centre, which is due to open in September.

Coun Yusuf Jan-Virmani, of Audley Ward said: "We have to bring in new ways of being environmentally friendly.

"The Enterprise Centre is not close to any residential area and I am all in favour of it."

The WES5 Tulipo turbine will save approximately 2.4 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, which would escape into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming if fossil fuels were burnt.

Located close to the Tesco superstore, the environment centre is a green building' and is efficient in using local and renewable materials and in the energy required to build it.

Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration for the council said: "The turbine will be situated in the grounds of the centre and away from the highway.

"A decision will be reached at a future planning and highways committee meeting. Issues to be addressed are the visual impact and whether there are noise issues generated by the turbine."

The Government has set a target of 10 per cent of all energy used in the UK to come from renewable sources by 2010, and councils are likely to play a part in achieving the target.

The consultation period for the urban wind turbine planning application on Tuesday, and a decision will be reached in the coming weeks.