TESCO has launched an ambitious bid to transform the Prestwich landscape with a plan to erect a wind turbine in its car park.

The supermarket wants to put up a 10.6 metre (30ft) wind turbine with a rotor diameter of 3.3 metre (11ft) at its busy store in Valley Park Road.

The turbine would power the supermarket's lights and tills, slashing electricity bills and helping the environment. It would generate enough energy to power four homes.

The move is part of a nationwide drive to make Tesco's supermarkets greener and similar applications are being made at scores of other sites across the country.

Tesco currently has 2,000 stores in the UK, four of which use the turbines. Due to the success of those in a pilot study, the scheme is being rolled out.

Rather than having a propeller design seen in turbines on wind farms, it would have a box design, so it would be more in keeping with the surrounding environment.

The plan was submitted on February 12 and has so far prompted no objections from neighbouring residents and businesses.

But due to the size of the scheme, it is expected the application will go before Bury Council's planning control committee, probably at its April 15 meeting. If it gets the go ahead, Tesco will be able to keep the turbine until 2022 before they would have to renew their permission with the council.

Councillor Vic D'Albert, chairman of Prestwich Local Area Partnership, welcomed the proposal: "There may be concerns about the noise and scale of the development but on the other hand, I would welcome the idea in that it has good intentions and we need to see more initiatives which will reduce energy consumption and help the environment.

"We have to encourage organisations to take up these kind of initiatives and you cannot have it all ways, wanting people to change things, but then complain about the size or shape of their quite valid suggestions."

A Tesco spokesman said: "We aim to halve the amount of energy we use and these turbines do make a difference. "