PLANS are being put together to create a huge solar farm on Dorset Council-owned land which could create enough energy to power 27,000 homes.

The solar farm, if built, would be one of the largest renewable energy projects on council-managed land in the south west with a capacity of 50MW.

Plans are being brought forward for land at Higher South Buckland Farm in Chickerell near Weymouth- part of the council’s long-established farms estate.

The site itself had already been earmarked as suitable for solar plans in the Local Plan. According to the council, the area falls into the category of a site that are “no longer best suited to traditional farming and require diversification to remain productive and deliver public value”.

A spokesperson for the council said it has consistently produced low agricultural yields due to its soil quality and topography, making it increasingly uneconomic for conventional farming.

READ MORE: Applications open for Great British Bake Off: How to apply

READ MORE: Shoplifting on the rise in Dorset – despite overall decrease in crime

“Repurposing the land for renewable energy ensures it remains a productive asset for Dorset rather than lying under-utilised,” they added.

Councillor Nick Ireland, leader of the council and cabinet member for climate, performance and safeguarding, said: “This is about making smart use of our land to support Dorset’s future.

“By generating clean energy locally, we can improve resilience, reduce carbon emissions, and create economic opportunities for our communities.”

To deliver the scheme, Dorset Council is collaborating with Source Galileo, an experienced onshore and offshore renewable energy developer with expertise in solar, wind and battery storage technologies.

Gina Cassidy, COO of Source Galileo, said: “The opportunity to support Dorset Council in achieving its regional targets for reducing emissions whilst managing its assets responsibly and driving economic growth is an initiative we welcome.

“We aim to bring our development expertise to realise appropriately designed renewable energy projects on council land over the coming years.”

The next steps will include detailed design, public engagement, and submission for planning permission, where the project will be assessed against local and national policy.