PLANS to build more than 2,500 solar panels are under consultation and people are invited to have their say.

Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy (WWCE) submitted plans to develop a solar farm at Petersfinger Farm, off Southampton Road, in April.

Now, the public consultation has begun and members of the public have until October 5 to submit comments.

The farm's seven-acre solar array would consist of 2,736 panels, which WWCE says would be capable of producing up to 1,600 MWh of electricity per year.

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The organisation also claims that this will help cut up to 300 tonnes of CO2 per year.

An assessment found that the site is at "high risk" from fluvial flooding and appropriate mitigation measures must be put in place.

It's also at "moderate risk" from groundwater flooding.

40 acres of land surrounding the farm would be managed by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to improve biodiversity.

If the project goes ahead there will be a community grant fund of at least £5,000 available annually for projects that increase biodiversity or decrease carbon emissions.

A spokesperson for Atlas Planning Group said: "The proposed two-Megawatt project is small scale in the context of most developments at present, which are typically 20 to 30 times larger to achieve the economies of scale necessary to be viable without the presence of a government subsidy."

To view the plans (PL/2023/06905) and submit a comment click here.