After a year of negotiations, Manchester City Council recently voted unanimously to approve planning permission for a giant new wind turbine to power the City of Manchester stadium.

Home to the long suffering football club, the 48,500 seat stadium will soon play host to the the UK’s largest land-based wind turbine and one of the biggest in Europe.

Designed by Sir Norman Foster, the turbine’s blades will top out at 120 metres (393 feet) and will generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 1,250 homes.

Pete Bradshaw, Social Responsibility Manager for Manchester City Football Club said: “The wind turbine provides an exciting opportunity to help the club and the city achieve significant carbon emission reductions.”

Dale Vince, MD of Ecotricity, owners of the turbine, said: “Changing where we get our electricity from is the biggest step any individual or business can take to reduce their carbon emissions. At a time when climate change is dominating the headlines and the thoughts of the world’s leaders, its great to be working with Manchester City Football Club.

“The Club’s new green electricity supply won’t be costing any more than it’s old supply – actually it will cost less,” he concluded.

The wind turbine will take two weeks to build and is scheduled to be up and running by the end of 2007.