More than 750 people responded to the first stage of consultation for a controversial 2,000-acre solar farm, with 88% saying they were against the current plans.

Lime Down Solar Park proposals for several villages in the Malmesbury area of ​​north Wiltshire have been met with resistance and a campaign group has been set up against it.

Island Green Power (IGP), which is behind the plans, thanked people for their responses and said a second consultation would begin next year.

The company has said the site would generate enough power for 115,000 homes and that feedback from local people would be used to “refine” the proposals.

IGP said the responses mainly concerned visual impact, soil and agriculture, biodiversity, drainage and flooding, heritage, transport and battery safety.

the company consultation report He said 53% were against solar power there, and 88% against the plans as they stand now.

There are concerns about how its size would affect the landscape and how much farmland it would take up.

Stop Lime Down signs can be seen in many places along the roads of North Wiltshire.

Phil Moore, of the campaign group, said: “It’s not because they are anti-solar – they will disfigure this countryside for miles and miles around.

“I don’t think anyone has the slightest idea how big it’s going to be – it’s absolutely huge.”

The solar park is expected to generate 500 MW, enough energy for 115,000 homes.

This is something local resident Lesley Bennett, who is also former mayor of Malmesbury, supports: “I think it’s brilliant.”

“The main thing we need to think about is that we have to do something about climate change.

“It’s for the good of our children and our grandchildren,” he added.

Will Threlfall, senior project development manager at Lime Down Solar Park, commented: “We now have a better understanding of what is important from a landscape, nature and community perspective that will be addressed as we refine our plans.”

The company has said the responses would be used to “refine” the proposals and that consultation was “critical” to this.

The solar farm plans were large enough to seek planning permission from the government rather than the council, although the latter is consulted.

The second consultation starting in early 2025 would be to gather feedback on the updated plans, which would include a look at the underground cable running to the battery site near Melksham.

If the company gets the permit, the earliest construction could begin in 2027.