Stroud District Council has approved plans to build a 49.9-megawatt solar farm near Whitminster.

Despite proposals being described as looking 'like a prison compound', JBM Solar Projects 7 Ltd have been granted permission to build, operate and maintain the solar farm which could power up to 15,000 homes.

The farm will cover 286.6 acres (116 hectare), split into two parcels. One is situated near Moreton Valence and the other northwest of Whitminster.

Technical drawings show the panels will measure 9.84ft tall and be set in straight arrays. They will be set on a tracking system which will pivot throughout the day depending on the direction of the sun.

Planning documents suggest the landowners do not have the expertise in renewable energy development and have therefore formed a partnership with JBM Solar for the project.

The application received 68 letters of support for the scheme as well as 47 oppositions.

Local councillor John Jones spoke against the scheme at the planning committee in March 29. He said: Food production lost by allowing the application to go ahead will have to be made up elsewhere. Possibly abroad and imported back into this country which is not good for British farmers and certainly not for carbon footprints.

Councillor David Paynter, of Whitminster Parish Council added: "The solar farm will cover nearly 15% of our green space. The solar farm will directly affect our public rights of way. Who wants to walk through the middle of a field covered in solar panels? It would be like walking through a prison compound with its high fences and CCTV cameras."

Adam Withers also spoke at the meeting on behalf of JBM Solar and said the scheme would help the district council's environmental efforts and be a bold response to climate change.

"We believe the officer's report demonstrates the designs put forward are technically sound and sympathetic to their surroundings. People want clean energy, they want cheap energy and they want secure energy. This scheme ticks all of those boxes," he said.

Mr Withers added that the green energy generated from the site would provide energy for more than 15,000 homes.

Council officers recommended the scheme for approval subject to conditions and the planning committee voted to approve the application by six votes to one.

It is expected the farm's operational lifespan will be 40 years with the construction phase expected to take around 26 weeks.