Windmill could power new homes

John Rigden, owner of land at The Hawth off Surrey Road, Seaford, wants to build 25 low-rise homes. His planner, Alan Edgar, believes the windmill '“ similar to the smock mills like those at Rottingdean and Chailey '“ could power the homes if planning permission is granted. Mr Edgar said: 'An initial technical feasibility study, following work by Loughborough University on similar windmills on the Norfolk Broads, indicates that one traditional windmill in this location will provide enough power for 20-25 houses. 'With the south-facing solar panels, this would make this development carbon friendly.' The park, would involve building boardwalks around the pond, a bird-house and interpretation (information) centre in the area known as The Dip. A new outline planning application submitted to Lewes District Council on January 9 included the eco-park but not the windmill. The mill will be submitted as a separate application if permission is granted for the houses and park. Mr Edgar, who speaks for Mr Rigden, said: 'If the traditional windmill is thought, after consultation, to be a good idea, a planning application will be made on the higher part of the site to take advantage of coastal winds to produce electricity. 'This is an exciting scheme where we have the opportunity to create something of real value for the local community '“ affordable homes and facilities for a previously impenetrable and dangerous wild area where biodiversity will be increased. 'My own view is that we should build a windmill to generate electricity. Traditional windmills are attractive to the eye and do not create the environmental problems associative with wind turbines. I am told there used to be 200 windmills on the coast between Brighton and Eastbourne.' Objectors have formed a group called Defenders of The Dip and are opposed to any development on the open space that has been home to many wildlife species. They want to protect The Dip, saying it is one of the few pieces of unspoilt open land left on the town's coastline. The Defenders said in a statement they would challenge any development of The Dip and the addition of the eco-park showed a complete lack of what nature conservation meant. A spokesman said: 'Any plans for landscaping the pond area and the building of a visitor centre with car parking on such a small and restricted site would destroy this land as a habitat and breeding ground for the reptiles, small mammals and wild birds that live there. 'For more than 30 years, until the developer recently bulldozed the whole area of land above the pond, the success of the Hawth Valley wild land with its many species of wildlife has been due to the fact it has been left undeveloped and undisturbed.' The district council will make the final decision.