Owner of one of Britain's 'finest Georgian windmills' near Kenilworth slams planners over plans to build 120 houses nearby - claiming they will block the wind

The owner of one of Britain's "finest Georgian windmills" has slammed planners over plans to build 120 houses nearby - claiming they will block the wind.

If the development gets the green light, the homes will be built in the shadow of the 200-year-old Berkswell Windmill near Kenilworth.

The 70ft-high landmark near Balsall Common was snapped up by Jeanette McGarry in 2005 who bought it as a wreck.

She spent £200,000 and five years restoring the Grade II listed building back to its former glory, including painting the enormous five-tonne sails by hand.

The 19th century four-bladed tower has recently been described by English Heritage as one of the “finest Georgian windmills in Britain”.

It is also thought to be the only working windmill in the country still using all of its original machinery which have remained intact.

But now the land surrounding the impressive structure has been earmarked for a major housing development.

Jeanette, 58, is begging Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council to turn down the plans claiming the homes will block the flow of the wind and cause the sails to stop turning.

Locals also say the proposed site is home to 22 different species of endangered British wildlife and have offered alternatives sites that are available for redevelopment.

The plans were discussed in a full council meeting on Monday October 5 and a final decision is expected later this year.

The mum-of-three, a local government worker, said: “The area earmarked for houses is on green fields opposite the windmill.

"There's talk of 120 houses and flats going there.

“I'm saying that in terms of trying to look after and preserve the windmill into the future, then there shouldn't be any development.

“It would be a really good opportunity to create a country park on that land.

“What better opportunity than to have a windmill and a country park linked together?

"The council are hoping to attract global visitors a bit like Stratford- upon-Avon.

“I think we could do that if we had a really nice country park and 22 of the country's protected species actually live on that land.

“There have been various studies. The council commissioned ecological studies into the area. It is so rich in biodiversity that you shouldn't build on that site.

“We've got great crested newts, hares, barn owls, tawny owls, all sorts of creatures living there.

“There was a historic impact assessment that looked at repercussions on the windmill.

“The conclusion was: don't build there because it's the windmill is so important.

“People can view the windmill at the moment but they won't be able to see it from far afield if you build there.”

Jeanette also claims that building homes so close to the windmill will reduce the efficiency of the sails.

She said: “A study found that if you build there, then you're going to disrupt the flow of the wind and the sails may not turn.

“All of the fields on the opposite side of the windmill are part of the plans. I would say the closest field is 25 metres from the windmill.

“You literally step out of the windmill and you've got the fields that are there.

“The Conservatives on the council just seem to be hell-bent on pushing forward.

"Boris Johnson was specifically asked by our local MP Saqib Bhatti in the House of Commons about this.

“His answer was ‘no’ and Solihull Council should be building on brownfield land first.

“Even the Prime Minister said they should focus on brownfield sites first. It is suggested site three should have 120 houses.”

The current brick windmill was built in 1826 and produced flour until it fell into disrepair in 1948.

Following Jeanette's restoration project, the mill now produces five tonnes of flour each month as well as providing a visitor centre for tourists and school groups.

A Solihull Council spokesperson said: “Challenging decisions have had to be made in the council’s new Draft Local Plan as it seeks to provide the new homes the borough’s communities need, whilst protecting the green belt and environment, including its rich heritage assets, that make Solihull such a special place.

“Two thirds of the borough are located in the green belt, and as the council is seeking to accommodate over 15,000 new dwellings it has followed a strategy of looking at urban and brownfield options first.

"But there are simply not enough urban or brownfield options.

“The council has therefore, reluctantly, looked to the green belt to provide the homes that are needed.

"In looking to the green belt the council has selected sites that are on the edge of existing settlements in areas where the green belt is not of the highest quality.

"One such site is on the southern edge of Balsall Common adjacent to another recent development near to the important Berkswell windmill.

“Original plans envisaged 200 dwellings being constructed on the site, but following consultation and using heritage impact assessment evidence, the plans have been scaled back to 120 units so that the setting of the windmill is preserved.”