Residents have spoken out against "shocking" plans to build a solar farm the size of 200 football pitches on green belt land in Honiley.

Plans for the solar farm, submitted by Enso Energy for planning approval, could see 113 hectares of fields transformed to provide renewable energy - making it the second largest plant in the UK.

But a residents group has criticised the scale of the plans and the lack of benefit for local residents.

Friends of the Green Belt (FrOG) member and former Warwick District Councillor Sue Gallagher also said the plans do not consider the impact on local residents.

"Whilst we agree renewables are the future, energy production must be balanced against the need for green, open spaces," she said.

"Most people will think of the small solar farms they've seen popping up over the last decade. But the scale of this site is shocking – it wraps around three villages and is disproportionate.

"This is not the way that renewable energy should be developed."

If approved by WDC the farm will take over land around Honiley, Beausale and Haseley Knob.

Construction is expected to take around seven months, and the farm could be in place for up to 40 years.

As well as the 3m high solar panels, battery storage would also be built to allow energy to be stored when it is not in such high demand from the National Grid.

New trees and hedgerows will be planted as part of the development, as well as 2.4m high fencing, large 'switchgear stations', storage containers and CCTV cameras.

Local resident and FrOG member, Richard Holdgate added: "Government has made sure that solar developers have access to subsidies so that they can develop suitable projects.

"Enso Energy are attempting to get this profit-driven scheme through, ignoring those subsidies, but that comes at the expense of the loss of a vast area of green belt land.

"There will be absolutely no local benefit derived from this proposed site. Only the loss of food-producing land and green, open space that provided a sanctuary for so many locals during lockdown."

The group is encouraging concerned residents to submit their objections to Warwick District Council before the 17 December deadline.

Already some 37 objections have been registered.

Kenilworth Town Council's planning committee will discuss the plans next Thursday (December 16).