A second solar farm in Broughton Gifford has been given planning permission, after councillors visited the land on Wednesday.

Wiltshire Council’s western area planning board approved plans for a 30-hectare farm at Leechpool Farm, off Norrington Lane.

The application was ‘called in’ to the committee by Melksham Without North Cllr Terry Chivers, who joined the site visit.

Developers Hive Energy claim the farm could produce enough electricity to power 4,500 homes.

The land is a short distance from a 22-hectare solar farm already being built on land off Norrington Lane. A third 20-hectare solar farm has also been proposed at nearby Little Chalfield.