Councillors approve 220-acre solar farm by one vote

Plans for a solar farm and battery storage park the size of more than 100 football pitches have been approved by councillors.

Opponents had concerns about loss of agricultural land and the impact on the countryside, but the scheme was approved by just one vote at a meeting of Brentwood Borough Council’s planning committee.

It is set to be built on 220 acres at Fitzwalter’s Farm, north of the A12 at Brentwood in Essex.

Large-scale solar farm specialists Luminous Energy says it will produce 49.9MW of power, enough for 23,410 homes a year, the equivalent of 77% of occupied households in Brentwood.

Six councillors voted in favour, five were against the solar energy park on a site which straddles the A12.

Luminous Energy has said measures such as hedgerow planting means there will be a biodiversity net gain in the area.

‘Lost forever’

Barry Aspinell, the Liberal Democrat council leader, described the decision as saving a large area of the green belt from developers.