A DEVELOPER last night said he hoped a local community would back his plans to install three wind turbines on land close to a Suffolk beauty spot.

Peter Brown is currently looking at the possibility of generating electricity from Foxburrow Farm, Heath Road, Brightwell, near Ipswich.

Last night he said he hoped the local community would be supportive of the eco-friendly scheme.

The site is within two miles of the village of Waldringfield, which lies in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The plans are only in their initial stages but Mr Brown - director of Atbara Land Developments Ltd - said he hoped to install three “relatively large” wind turbines, which would generate electricity to be fed into the national grid.

However he has to submit an application for a wind monitor first to see if his plans are viable.

Mr Brown, who had permission for 20 caravans on the same site refused earlier this year, said: “Environmental issues and green energy are very much on the agenda at the moment. It seems to be the way forward. If I can do my bit then it all helps.

“I think everyone is concerned about the environment and I hope the community will be supportive of the scheme.

“It is very much in its early stages but I have been approached by two or three companies. I think there would be three, three megawatt wind turbines, therefore generating nine megawatts.

“I don’t know the exact size but they would be relatively large ones because they have to pick up enough wind to make them viable.

“It is an expensive operation and clearly we have to see if the site is suitable. An initial test already carried out would suggest there is enough wind there but we have to monitor it for 12 months and then go from there.”

In 2006 Mr Brown was refused permission to build 64 log cabins on land at Foxburrow Farm.

Ian Kay, chairman of Waldringfield Parish Council, declined to comment on the new plans last night, saying he would wait until a formal application had been submitted.