WARRINGTON Borough Council could make a U-turn on a deal to buy a solar farm in Cirencester after the scheme became 'less viable'.

The authority's executive board approved the business case for the purchase and development of the site in the south west in March.

The venture was being carried out in partnership with Rockfire Capital.

However, on Monday, the executive board approved a £58.7 million investment into two solar farms – in Hull and York.

The scheme came before members amid serious doubts over investment into the Cirencester site.

A council spokesman said: "The original proposal for the Cirencester site was for a larger farm which would meet our energy needs of 22.8MW per year.

"However, the firm developing the scheme has only been able to secure a 10MW connection for the site, which means we have had to begin looking at alternative schemes in Hull and York.

"The decision previously made by the executive board provided the opportunity to purchase the farm once it had been completed and a detailed analysis had been carried out.

"The developer has not been able to confirm when the farm will be ready and the final decision whether to invest will still need to be made after it is completed."

The investment into the Hull and York sites will see the council become the first local authority in the country to have its electricity needs met entirely by solar power.

They are planned to save the council £1 million a year on its electricity bill.

Deputy leader Cllr Russ Bowden says it will generate a 30-year operating surplus of around £150 million.