New solar farms could be installed on publicly-owned land in the South Downs countryside surrounding Petersfield, as part of a not-for-profit initiative backed by Petersfield Town Council.

The council’s town development committee heard from a representative of the Energise South Downs project at its September 3 meeting, seeking new sites for solar energy installations in the national park.

Councillors expressed their commitment to the project and agreed “the town, district and county councils should all link up to explore possibilities for publicly-owned assets”.

The project covers an area from Liphook to Winchester, and is already in discussion with “a local school and a landowner”.