An award-winning company is hoping to build a solar park on a 55-acre site in Minster.

Solarcentury has come up with the plans for South Lees Farm, off Lower Road, and intends to apply for permission to Swale council soon.

A park consists of thousands of solar panels which generate electricity to the local grid.

If it went ahead, the 10.5MW park could supply enough to power the equivalent of 3,000 homes.

The firm has selected the Sheppey site to ensure the park is screened and says care has been taken to minimise impact on the landscape and visual impact for homeowners.

The proposal includes the construction of panels and associated works, including small inverter cabins, access tracks, 2m security fencing and cameras and would save an estimated 145,000 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime.

Solar panels would be laid in rows, east to west, facing south to maximise exposure to daylight, and fixed through piles driven into the ground so that no concrete foundations would be used.

Rows would be set back from the fence to ensure existing trees and hedges that surround the site would not be harmed and wildflower seeds would be planted in between.

If it goes ahead, installation would take around 16 weeks to complete.

It is hoped the development would create jobs for Islanders as a Solarcentury spokesman said the firm always tried to use local contractors for the installation and there are staff who monitor the sites, but it is not clear at this stage how many jobs it would be.

A public information session was held at New Road Community Centre in Minster earlier this month.

Project manager Tom Illsley said: “It was useful to meet local people and hear their comments.

“Talking to residents and councillors is important to us and a key part of the planning process for our projects.”

Solarcentury was founded in 1998 and has won a number of awards for product innovation.