November 12, 2007
England
England
A 150ft wind turbine could soon be looming over the city centre and powering up the gaming machines in a new casino.
The colossal windmill – with a 60ft wide rotor blade – is part of Xscape’s energy-saving plan for the new gambling house, hotel, restaurants and shopping strand on Avebury Boulevard.
Owners X-Leisure said it was looking to produce 10 per cent of the energy needed for the new development from a combination of renewable energy sources.
As well as wind, solar panels in shop roofs and a biomass cooling plant would provide heating and air-conditioning for the hotel and casino.
The Xscape shows in latest proposals to Milton Keynes Council that it continues to think high and wide.
The existing entertainment complex already dominates the sky line, but the eight-storey new hotel – Hotel Tower – would stand even higher.
X-Leisure said it would be “a striking gateway and
counterpoint to Xscape” creating a “vibrant frontage” to Avebury Boulevard and the Theatre district.
“The project team’s precedent for the high quality public realm and targeted tenant mix is the Duke of York Barracks development on the Kings Road, London.”
The Barracks is an imposing shopping mall popular with ‘Sloane rangers.’
X-Leisure aim to get ahead of the rest with their bid for a casino, with the Government still to confirm its choice of Milton Keynes and other locations as preferred sites.
The wind turbine – likely to be a first in a city centre location – could get the go-ahead with barely a murmur of protest as it would be well away from homes.
The nearby bleak Airkix diving tower, held by many to be the ugliest building in the city, managed to get the go ahead from the council.
The planning application is expected to go before councillors early in the New Year.
By Doug Smith
12 November 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/11/12/wind-turbine-plan-for-city-centre/