THE developers behind a plan to build 160,000 solar panels just outside Wroughton say it will benefit the whole community.

Swindon Commercial Services , along with the Science Museum, have submitted an application to build the solar farm on an old RAF airfield, just outside Wroughton.

The new farm will cover a 200 acre site and provide enough energy power to almost 12,000 homes.

A consultation was held in January on the scheme and public support was overwhelming.

James Owen, head of Energy and Sustainability at SCS, said: “There was a very positive response.

“We had 600 people come on the day and the responses we got from the questionnaires which were returned showed 85 per cent strongly in favour.

“If people in the area had not been in favour then I wouldn’t have gone ahead with it.”

The land the solar farm will be on is classed as an area of outstanding natural beauty so a few minor alterations were made to the proposals.

Originally, it was due to produce 40MW of power but 2MW have been sacrificed to make space for a nature corridor along the western edge and room for bats and bees along the south side.

Several schemes have also been created to make sure the residents of Wroughton can get the most from the development.

Firstly, there will be an opportunity for people to invest in the farm.

James said: “We have put aside five 5MW for people to invest between £10 and £1,000. It will be like a bond scheme but we have deliberately made it at a price which is low so anyone can get on board.

“Many similar programmes have a minimum but no maximum investment which prices a lot of people out. We will produce a brochure shortly explaining the full plans.”

SBC and the Science Museum are looking at ways of using the farm to offer cheaper power to those who live in Wroughton and the area surrounding the farm.

“We have spoken to several power companies about the possibility of creating a cheaper tariff which would cover a radius around the site,” said John.

“There is a process called sleeving by which you can use an amount of the power and sell it at a lower cost so we are looking into that.”

Also, as a result of the consultation, the developers have spoken to local authorities, including the Wroughton Parish Council, about setting up a trust fund.

For every 1MW created, £1,000 will be put into the fund which could then be spent on local projects. John said: “We were asked what the solar farm could bring to the community.

“If the farm produces 40MW then we will donate £40,000 which can be invested in something which may not have previously been affordable.”

The role of SCS recently changed with public services returning to council control so the company can focus on renewable energy schemes.