All new buildings in Preston could soon be required to have solar panels or wind turbines, under proposals to be considered by the city council today.

The proposal calls for new developments or conversions, with floor space of 100sq metres, or any new homes, to incorporate renewal energy equipment to meet at least 15 per cent of the total predicted fuel requirements.

Councillor John Swindells, cabinet member for environment, said dwindling supplies of energy and soaring fuel costs made looking at issues like this necessary.

This could mean generating energy through solar panels, wind turbines,like the one shown abov,, or improving efficiency through better insulation.

He said: "I think it's something that people will want more and it will be a selling point for houses in the future."

He added that the 100sq metre caveat was likely to be dropped so that all new buildings were included. It comes as Ashton Community High School, Aldwych Drive, yesterday became the first school in Preston to install a wind turbine.

During school hours the £40,000 turbine will generate electricity for the school's new science lab and at night it will export electricity to the National Grid.

Coun Terry Cartwright said: "I am totally in support of this, I first brought it up last summer when some large planning applications were coming in."

Conservative leader Coun Ken Hudson, said his party was supportive of the idea, but had concerns about the effect on street scenery if wind turbines were on every new house.

Before it can become an official policy it will have to be heard by the council's cabinet, and returned to the full council for approval.