Changes have been made to a 19-hectare solar farm being proposed for Wraxall Manor Farm to protect the site of an ancient barrow.

The scheme, being put forward by BSR Energy Ltd, could eventually provide 13.5 Megawatts of power if approved.

Revised drawings show the boundary of the site moved by about 20 metres to give a greater distance between the development and a round barrow on the southern edge of the site.

The two-field site is to the north east of the A356, bound by the road leading to Higher Wraxall half a mile away to the north; Wraxall Woods to the north east and agricultural land to the south. It is within the Maiden Newton ward and south east of an existing solar farm at Rampisham Park.

Access to the site is proposed from Kingcombe Lane. No public rights of way cross the site although there are paths and a bridleways nearby to the south west.

Several Sites of Nature Conservation Interest are listed as being in the wider area, including the Kingcombe Meadows Nature Reserve, along with patches of recognised ancient woodland and Sites of Specific Scientific Interest at Rampisham and Toller Porcorum.

A number of listed buildings are within 2km of the site including Lower Kingcombe Farmhouse, Wraxall Manor and the parish Church of St Mary and the church of St Michael and All Angels.

If approved, construction on the site is expected to last six months although after that visits to the site will only be infrequently for essential repair and maintenance and habitat management.

The expected working life of the panels has been put at 40 years after which the site could be cleared.

A full planning application has yet to be submitted to Dorset Council.