A farm site between Frampton and Maiden Newton is being explored for an 18-hectare solar installation.

The site is close to several footpaths, including the MacMillan Way which runs from Cruxton Manor Farm over the hill to Compton Valance.

Dorset Council has been asked for its opinion on the environmental impacts of using the site for a solar farm, the first step before a formal planning application is submitted.

Agents acting for Enviromena Asset Management UK Limited has asked Dorset Council whether or not there is a case for a full environmental impact assessment.

In its response Dorset Council has suggested that a full environmental impact assessment will be needed – with the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty partnership claiming use of the site would have a significant effect on the area.

The development company say the site, which is within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, consists of two agricultural fields on Land at Cruxton Farm, lying 0.7km south-west of Dorchester Road (A356). The hamlet of Cruxton is about 550m north-east of the site with Notton a similar distance away.

Public footpaths run either side of the site.

The company says the site could generate 12.5MW of electricity each year over its expected 40-year life which would be accessed from a farm track running back to the A356 Dorchester Road.

It says wildflowers would be planted on the site with the possible installation of bat and owl boxes and bee 'hotels', guided by a habitat survey. It does not anticipate removing any trees with hedgerows mainly remaining intact and the potential for additional hedges to be planted.

The application says that once the site is constructed it would only require occasional visits for maintenance.

The Dorset AONB Partnership say using the site would produce significant effects on the views and landscape: ""Owing to the isolated location of the proposals on rising farmland – and the prevalence of open access land and public rights of way – the potential effects of such a development are likely to be significant both in local and mid-range views. …the Macmillan Trail runs along the western and southern edges of the site – where the development would be directly visible at close range giving rise to substantial adverse effects. To the north and north-east of the Frome Valley are numerous elevated vantage points – where the development would be visible as an isolated and incongruous element within the open upland landscape. As such the proposed development is considered likely to give rise to significant landscape and visual effects."

The closest existing solar to the site is 7km away at Long Ash Lane.