It looks like something out of a science fiction movie – but a giant wind turbine with a viewing platform at its top could soon be built in a park near you.

Leicester City Council wants the 450ft, energy-generating windmill to be erected in Western Park, off Hinckley Road.

A similar turbine is already up and running in the Norfolk town of Swaffham, and as well as being a tourist attraction it produces enough electricity for 1,500 homes a year.

Its viewing platform – accessible by lift or stairs – has been visited by more than 50,000 people since it opened in 1999.

The Western Park proposal is one of six giant wind turbines planned for the city's parks and golf courses, but would be the only structure with a public area with views across the city and county.

Leicester City Council wants to put the other turbines on land in Beaumont Park, Castle Hill Park and Ashton Green – all in Beaumont Leys – as well as Humberstone Heights golf course, near Hamilton, and land near Western Park golf course, in Braunstone Frith.

All have been identified as suitable areas for normal turbines.

To move the plans forward, council bosses are testing the preferred areas to ensure the soil could hold energy-generating windmills.

Councillor Robert Wann, the cabinet member for the environment, says that the Western Park turbine would inspire visitors to take an interest in renewable energy, and complement the nearby Eco House.

Coun Wann said: "We are moving forward with the wind turbine proposals, which I am very excited about. I think they are wonderful things.

"I have visited one with a viewing area and it would be incredible to have one here. You could see across Leicester, or to Bradgate Park.

"It would be inspirational, educational and attract many people.

"Western Park already has a reputation for being green, especially because of the Eco House, so I think it would be a good area for it."

The turbines plan comes from a city council pledge to obtain 20 per cent of its energy from local renewable sources by 2025.

A single two-megawatt turbine would cost more than £3 million and would produce enough energy for about 1,000 homes every year.

The turbines would probably be higher than Leicester's tallest building, the BT exchange in Wharf Street South, which is 275ft high.

The initial reaction from city residents seems positive.

Western Park resident Howard Mitchell said: "I think they are beautiful things, and as long as they were not too noisy or made house prices drop, I wouldn't mind having one near my home.

"They are all over Europe, and I don't understand why we don't have more."

Mum-of-two Harriet Grange, of Glenfield said: "I think it would be a wonderful thing to take people up, and especially exciting for children. I know mine would love to go up."

The turbines would be paid for from a mix of council funds and investment from the private sector.

One major energy company has already expressed an interest in the project.

When installed, energy could be sold to the National Grid or provided just for households in Leicester. At the moment, just a fraction of power to heat homes and businesses comes from so-called green energy.