A 28-acre solar energy farm capable of powering nearly 1,300 homes could be built in the heart of the Cotswolds.

British Solar Renewables (BSR) has applied to build the five megawatt installation at Broadfield Farm, south of Northleach.

If successful, the development will be made up of slanted solar panels, 2.1metre at their highest point, which the green energy provider says will be shrouded by trees.

BSR believes the Northleach development would generate enough energy to power 1,268 homes, a saving of 2,197 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Marcus Dixon, head of marketing at BSR, said: ‘The proposed Broadfield Solar farm is to be located on a well screened 11.5 hectare site, which will have minimal visual impact due to existing and improved hedgerow screening.

"The site is close to grid connection and when up and running will generate enough clean, carbon free energy to power 1,268 average UK homes. Sensitive land management practices will assist in improving the wildlife and biodiversity of the site, which will be completely removed at the end of its life.

“The local community have been consulted as part of the planning process and a contribution to benefit local people will be offered to the parish council by BSR, however no discussions on this have yet taken place."

He added that the development at Broadfield Solar Farm would provide an opportunity to make a “meaningful contribution” to renewable energy production in Britain.

Nick Blades, chairman of Northleach with Eastington Town Council, said BSR had presented their scheme at a recent meeting and members were "quite happy with it".

"It's not going to be an eyesore, it doesn't have a high profile so we are happy to support it," he said.

In September, a 102-acre solar energy farm capable of powering 6,724 homes was given permission to be built outside Cirencester.

Gaining planning permission for large-scale projects like solar energy farms is more difficult in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The Cotswold Conservation Board, which seeks to preserve the character of the AONB, is currently opposing the application while still assessing its usefulness to the area and considering options for developing outside the protected landscape.

“The Cotswold Conservation Board will be asking the council to consider that the AONB is afforded the ‘highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty’ (National Planning Policy Framework paragraph 115),” said Andrew Lord, planning and landscape officer for the Cotswolds Conservation Board.

“Thus, amongst material considerations, national policy gives the conservation of landscape and scenic beauty in an AONB a particular enhanced status. Therefore unlike land outside an AONB, the council are required not to undertake a simple balancing exercise, but to give 'great weight' to 'conserving and enhancing' natural beauty within the designated Cotswolds AONB.

“The board is also aware of the Government’s move in position and policy away from large scale greenfield solar farms, particularly on farmland in nationally protected landscapes.”