A Gloucestershire army base will be going green - and not just because of camouflage gear - if plans to build a solar farm to supply it with power are approved.

Cotswold District Council has received plans from Public Power Solutions, a wholly-owned subsidiary of neighbours Swindon Borough Council to build the solar farm on the Duke of Gloucester Barracks.

The plans for the South Cerney site have been submitted on behalf of the secretary of state for defence as part of a pioneering project to turn the forces estate green.

Public Power Solutions have worked alongside the Army's delivery partner The Defence Infrastructure Organisation on a feasibility study for the Duke of Gloucester Barracks scheme.

It will be the first of a pilot programme that could see solar farms installed across Army sites throughout the country over the next year.

It comes as part of the Army's commitment to turning its estate greener as the nation looks to reduce its overall carbon emissions to meat the Net Zero 2050 target.

The Duke of Gloucester Barracks project would deliver 1.4 mega watt peak of power, enough to power 350 typical homes, saving approximately 400 tonnes of co2 per year.

It will be connected by 'private wire' to the Barracks, meaning energy generated will be consumed on site - and it will account for around one third of the Barracks' total energy usage.

Major General David Southall CBE, Director of the Army's Basing and & Infrastructure organisation, said: "We are very excited at the opportunity to drive greater sustainability into the Army estate.

"We remain wholly committed to becoming more energy efficient and this is an excellent example of the innovation we will harness to enable this."

Approximately 5200 panels will be installed on the 2.4 hectare site.

Proposals also include improvements to the grassland maintenance of the site with additional biodiversity enhancements for birds and reptiles on other areas of the barracks.

Steve Cains, Head of Public Power Solutions, PPS, said: "We're really excited to be working on another solar project for the Army.

"The site at Duke of Gloucester Barracks is ideal for solar generation. This project shows that in the right conditions, subsidy-free solar is a viable option for public sector organisations looking to reduce their carbon emissions.

"We look forward to continuing to support the Army on this programme of solar deployment on sites across the Army estate."

The Duke of Gloucester Barracks is currently home to the British Army's 104 Logistic Support Brigade and 29 Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps with approximately 550 staff located on the site.