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Controversial plans for a 100-acre solar farm in a Norfolk village have been rejected, amid strong opposition to the scheme.
Proposals for the solar farm, on three fields of farmland in Alderford, near Lenwade, were refused permission by Broadland District Council's planning committee.
Councillors turned down the plans for the scheme called Plough Meadow, to the south of Hall Road, citing the loss of agricultural land, which they said outweighed the benefits of renewable energy.
Members voted, by five votes to four, to reject the proposals at meeting on Thursday.
Swannington with Alderford and Little Witchingham Parish Council had objected, along with Great Witchingham Parish Council.
The loss of agricultural land and the impact on rural roads during construction were among the reasons for their objections, while 33 members of the public also objected.
Norfolk county councillor Greg Peck (Image: Norfolk Conservatives)
Conservative councillor Peter Bulman, who represents Great Witchingham division on Broadland District Council objected.
Fellow Conservative Greg Peck, who represents Reepham division at Norfolk County Council told the committee he "strongly objected" to "vast swathes of plastic and glass" covering the Norfolk countryside.
And Jerome Mayhew, Conservative MP for Broadland and Fakenham, said solar farms should not be constructed on quality farmland.
MP Jerome Mayhew (Image: Newsquest)
Representatives for applicant London-based ODP Energy told the meeting the solar farm will produce enough energy to power almost 8,000 homes and that animals would still be able to graze on the site once the solar panels are installed.
Plans for the solar farm (Image: Opdenergy)
Officers at Broadland District Council had recommended approval, saying the schemes which generated renewable energy was "strongly supported" by national policy.
Officers said the farm would be decommissioned after 40 years and farmland restored.
They had said concerns about the solar farm's appearance, impact on nearby homes and on roads were not "of sufficient weight" to warrant refusal.
Green councillor Eleanor Laming (Image: Newsquest)
Liberal Democrat Caroline Karimi-Ghovanlou and Green Eleanor Laming, the chairman and vice-chairman of the planning committee agreed and voted for the scheme.
Conservative councillor Adrian Crotch (Image: Angela Sharpe Photography)
But Conservative councillors, including Adrian Crotch and Ken Leggett, rued the loss of quality farmland and voted for rejection.
There has been a surge in applications for solar farms on land in Norfolk in recent months, prompting concerns about the loss of agricultural land.
That includes massive schemes such as the 4,000-acre High Grove solar farm stretching from Dereham to Castle Acre and the 2,700-acre East Pye scheme near Long Stratton.
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