Green fields at a village between Swindon and Highworth could be covered by thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of solar panels.

Developer JBM Solar projects is proposing a scheme which would see fields to the east of Stanton Fitzwarren - between Swindon and Highworth - covered in the enormous solar panel farm which could run the entire length of the village.

The company says the farm would generate 49 megaWatts of electricity at peak production.

That’s the equivalent of the energy needs of 15,500 houses, and would save 25,000 tonnes of carbon emissions compared to burning oil or coal.

Simon Chamberlayne is director at the developer’s agents, Pegasus Planning, with offices in Cirencester.

He said: “We held a public consultation on December 6 about the proposals to put up a very large solar farm on land at Stanton Fitzwarren.

“We are now going through the feedback we received and considering our next step.”

Mr Chamberlayne said he could not say when a formal application would be made to Swindon Borough Council.

But some residents are concerned about the impact of the scheme.

Debra Boddington lives on Trenchard Road, the main residential road running through the village.

She said: “This could be a huge development – it will run the whole length of the village, and it seems that residents on that side of Trenchard Road will be able to see the panels from their bedroom windows.

“It will also be visible to people in Highworth, it’s going to be so big.

“I’m concerned that not many people seem to know that much about it. It doesn’t seem to be that well known, so I wanted some publicity about it.”

Pegasus Planning were not able to say how many solar panels might be used in the proposal or how many acres of land it could cover.

Figures on the solar energy trade association website solartrade.org.uk say that 25 acres of land are needed for every five megaWatts of energy generated, meaning the 49megaWatts of the Stanton Fitzwarren proposals could take up to 250 acres.

That’s about the size of 250 football pitches or 10 New York City blocks next to each other.

Website theecoexperts.co.uk says one standard sized solar panel generates about 350 watts at peak - meaning the proposal could see 140,000 panels used.

The picture given to residents as part of the consultation shows 15 agricultural fields, of differing sizes, could be covered in the panels.

Debra said: “It’s colossal. I think it’s too big.”

When a formal application is put in by the developers, neighbouring residents and Stanton Fitzwarren Parish Council will be able to give their views.

Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee will make the final decision.