There are fears a village could be swallowed up by “mammoth” plans for the largest solar farm ever proposed for Kent.

Energy firm Low Carbon has revealed it wants to create a 500-megawatt (MW) facility on Romney Marsh, producing enough electricity for 140,000 properties.

Up to 1,482 acres of land around the village of Old Romney have been earmarked for the scheme, which could generate enough power for 20% of homes in the county.

But some residents have raised concerns over what it might mean for their homes, their rural views and their community if valuable farmland is lost.

“It's a very large proposal and we are right in the middle of it,” said 40-year-old Wayne Shepherd.

“Yes, it will take up our views, but the biggest thing is that it is taking away farmland.

“It's not that we are against solar - I support the idea - but I think it needs to be in the right place.

“They need to move it away from the village ideally, even just one or two fields.

“If it were to go more towards Dungeness, it would have less impact on the individual as it wouldn't be as much of an eyesore.”

Plans are yet to be submitted but Low Carbon says the site, if built, will become one of the UK’s largest solar farms.

Bosses say the sprawling facility - the equivalent size of 840 football pitches - will be connected to the National Grid either via an existing substation in Dungeness or a new substation proposed to be built nearby.

Another solar farm is already in operation in Old Romney between Beggarsbush Lane and Millbank Lane.

Mr Shepherd added: “If you walk past the current solar farm it gives a humming noise, so if you have that surrounding you it wouldn't be nice for residents.

“The current solar farm is not an issue, but this one is on a mammoth scale.”

Richard Velvick, who has lived in Old Romney all his life, says the scheme is “a hell of a lot for one area”.

The 67-year-old added: “I first heard about it when the letter came through my door last week.

“The government at the moment seems to be anti-farming, so farmers are having it hard.

“It’s a hell of a lot for this area, and I doubt we will benefit from the electricity as locals.

“There must be a few other places around so they can split it up. It's not just that - we have windmills, the current solar farm and I always said there will be more at some point.”

Raymond Banyard, who has lived in Old Romney for more than 40 years, said it was a “bit of a shock” when the leaflets came through the door.

The 73-year-old said: “I’m not happy about it taking up farmland.

“We have already got a big solar farm down the road - we don't really notice that one so much as it's away from homes.

“It was a bit of a shock because we didn't know it was coming.”

The 500MW facility - called South Kent Energy Park - could be built around Old Romney, sitting either side of the A259.

The biggest solar farm currently operating in the UK is Llanwern in south Wales, at only 75MW.

The largest one under construction is Cottam Solar in Lincolnshire, at 600MW, while Cleve Hill Solar Park in Graveney, near Faversham, which is also being built, will produce 375MW.

Despite the large scale of the proposals, some villagers in Old Romney think it could be a good addition to the countryside and feel the proposals are better than losing the land to housing.

Sophie Tewkesbury, 42, said: “It’s not going to affect us too much, and renewable energy is really important.

“Solar panels have got to go somewhere. We should be making the move towards renewables in the long term.

“It is better than more houses. I think it's good to be flexible about it because it will benefit us all in the long run.”

Debbie Ward, 60, said she would be “quite happy” to live in the middle of a solar farm adding: “We are very much in favour of green energy.”

Gareth Ward agrees but worries what it will mean for house prices in the area.

The 64-year-old said: “We understand we need to decarbonise, so we support of the idea of solar farms.

“But if it goes ahead, we are going to have to walk a mile in either direction before we can walk the dogs at a place where we can exercise them properly.

”But what cost will it come down to for residents? Would we be able to sell this house? Who will want to buy a house when it is enveloped by a solar farm?

“It's like a death sentence hanging over it.

“There needs to be a discussion around compensation.”

Low Carbon plans to submit its proposal to the Planning Inspectorate in 2026, with construction starting no earlier than 2029.

The development will fall within the Walland and Denge Marsh ward at Folkestone and Hythe District Council.

Ward Cllr Alan Martin (Con) says it is very early days but admits he was initially shocked by the scale of it.

He said: “When I first saw the proposals my first thought was with the residents, and in particular the residents of Old Romney, because at first glance it would seem like the new development almost completely encases it.

“We've got a couple of the first communication consultation days coming up next week.

“I'll be out and about encouraging residents to come along and soak up as much information and ask as many questions as possible so that we can start to get a sense of what local residents think.

“I think people are realistic. The country needs to generate electricity in economic and environmentally friendly ways.

“But what you don't want is lots of developments appearing all over the place. And those that occur, you want to make sure that they're done in the right way.”

Cllr Martin says local Conservatives have been “big champions” of nuclear power at Dungeness.

“That's an obvious place to start in our area when you think about power generation, because the site is there,” he said.

“All of the residents on The Marsh are used to a nuclear power station being there. They're very supportive of some form of new generation going there.”

Cllr Martin says the size and scale of the proposed solar farm was “quite a shock”.

“It's one thing to pass a field of panels as you go into your village, but if you've got a sense that your village was surrounded by panels, you can't help thinking that will change how you feel about that village,” he added.

Public consultation

In-person events where locals can meet the team behind the development and ask questions are set to take place next week.

The first will be on Tuesday, November 26, between 2.30pm and 8pm at Ivychurch Village Hall,

The second will be on Wednesday, November 27, between 2.30pm and 8pm at 1st New Romney Scout Hall.

A further online event has been scheduled for Thursday, December 12 between 8.30pm and 8pm.

James Turley, Senior Business Development Manager at Low Carbon said: "We are very keen to work with the local community to deliver this project.

"It is vital that we listen to their concerns and ensure their feedback helps shape our proposals.

"The solar panels themselves do not emit any noise; however, some of the associated equipment does - for example, the inverters, which convert the DC electricity produced by the solar panels into AC electricity, which is used by the grid. Where possible, these elements will be located within the solar farm and away from sensitive receptors such as residential properties.

"We will ensure any noise levels are at an acceptable level at the boundary of the solar farm by carrying out in-depth noise modelling assessments.

"We do not provide compensation for individual households; however, we are proposing a community benefit fund.

"We will seek to work with the local community to understand what needs are in the local area that could be supported and what this community benefit fund could be spent on.

"The energy produced by South Kent Energy Park will be used first to offset local demand.

"Excess energy will be transported to other parts of the network where it is needed, helping to build regional and national energy resilience.”