ILMINSTER could soon be home to one of England’s first solar energy farms if plans for the 64,000 panels go ahead.

Applicant WRS Energy has earmarked four sites to house the solar panels – two on the Dillington Estate, one along Bushfurlong Road and another on Cad Farm.

Boosting the region’s renewable energy output, each site would have a life span of 25 years and could provide enough electricity for more than 1,800 homes each year.

Before submitting an outline planning application, the energy company will be holding an exhibition detailing the proposals on February 4 at The Vaughan Lee Memorial Hall in Whitelackington.

A spokesman for WRS Energy said: “We are holding the exhibition to show the community our plans and answer any questions regarding the projects.

“These installations will greatly increase the current solar PV capacity in the country and will be some of the first seen in Britain on a utility scale.”

If the plans go ahead, the solar farms would create ten part-time jobs plus more short-term jobs during construction on the sites, which will each contain around 21,000 of the six-feet-tall panels.

WRS Energy told The News that most of the noise and vibration-free solar panels would be concealed by surrounding hedges.

And at the end of their 25-year lifespan a bond has been put in place to restore the land to its original state.

The exhibition at The Vaughan Lee Memorial Hall will run from 5pm to 8pm.