Solar farm to be built near M4 despite concerns

Joann Sprules, a resident of nearby Greenhill, said she objected to losing green space.

“There are much more viable ways to install such solar farms — unused industrial estates, office/warehouse buildings and other brownfield sites,” she said.

Protection for wildlife

The scheme also attracted 25 letters of support, arguing that the solar farm was essential in tackling climate change.

It followed changes to the original proposals, which Natural England said would have affected the Flaxlands Manor County Wildlife Site.

Solar panels were removed from the protected grassland area, and the revised plans introduced additional ecological buffers, including protection for ancient woodland, mitigation for bats, skylarks, great crested newts and water voles.

Safeguards for the battery energy storage facility and strict traffic controls to cope with more than 1,000 vehicle movements during the six-month build period were also put in place.