A garden centre near Carlisle is looking to build five wind turbines to cut its heating costs. Westwood Nurseries has submitted planning permission to build five wind turbines that will help produce electricity to heat its glass houses, which span 192,000 square feet. The firm currently pays £15,000 each year in heating bills, and plans to wean itself off its dependence on gas via alternative energy. Westwood thinks the two 50-ft and three 30-ft high turbines will pay for themselves within five years.

The nursery is also installing solar panels to supplement the electricity supply, which could also support other businesses on the same site. Surplus electricity could be sold to the national grid. The application contends that the turbines "will have a low impact on the receiving landscape and will impose visual intrusion on a relatively small area and number of properties".

Anti-wind farm campaigner Gerry Sewell has no objections, saying that "there is a world of difference between an application of this size and a commercial wind farm". A 400-ft high turbine was recently given the go-ahead at the Pirelli tyre factory in Carlisle.