PLANS for a large solar park on agricultural land near Milverton have been approved by Somerset Council despite widespread local objections.

Novus Renewable Services Ltd was this week given permission to build a new solar farm next to Preston Farm, in Preston Bowyer, which will take up large amounts of high quality farmland for the next 40 years.

Somerset councillors were told numerous local residents had objected to the proposals, arguing that the UK’s food security was critical and there were more appropriate sites available for solar panels.

But the planning committee accepted more solar farms were needed in light of local housing growth and rising demands for electricity.

The Novus solar farm will be built to the north of existing farm buildings, with access from the B3227 which links Taunton and Wiveliscombe.

Once connected to the National Grid half-a-mile south of the main road, it will be able to generate about 24,000kWh of electricity, enough to power up to 7,000 homes across Somerset.

Most of the site comprised agricultural land which was classified by Defra as grade 2 or grade 3a, meaning it was among the more fertile and versatile for growing crops.

Planners were told the site would be operational for 40 years, with sheep being allowed to graze during its operation, and the land would then be returned to full agricultural use after 2064 - although its operation could be extended via future planning applications.

Philip Knowles, who lives near the existing farm, was among the local residents who spoke against the plans when the committee met in Taunton on Tuesday afternoon (January 23).

Mr Knowles said: “Senior political figurers are concerned that we are installing these facilities at the expense of good agricultural land.

“Just because something is Government policy does not mean it is a good idea.

“We currently have a climate emergency, how much longer before we have a food emergency as well?

“Forty years is half a lifetime if we are lucky, who is to say what condition the land would be left in?

“I expect this land will be lost to agriculture for good.”

Michael Davis, who lives in neighbouring Halse, called for a decision to be delayed until information about alternative sites had been properly taken into account.

Mr Davis said in a statement read out on his behalf: “I am an advocate for solar energy, but you are being asked to make a decision without adequate information.

“We need to keep agricultural land in production, feeding the nation should be a priority.”

But Milverton parish councillor and retired anaesthetist Dr Ian Gauntlett said Britain’s need for energy security should be the primary concern.

Dr Gauntlett said: “We are facing a massive climate crisis.

“Urgent expansion of renewable energy sources is absolutely essential.

“This solar farm is fully reversible.

“The extreme effects of climate change are already wreaking havoc on our agriculture.”

Hannah Montag, of Runnington, near Wellington, said: “Through my work I have visited around 100 operational solar farms.

“They can be a haven for wildlife.

“Taking land out of intensive agricultural production means that it can become hugely valuable for wildlife and preventing surface water run-off.

“We are one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe.

“We have lost 97 per cent of our wildflower meadows in the UK, and solar farms can help to mitigate that.

“We have more than enough land to become self-sufficient without imports, it is our diet that is the problem.”

Somerset Cllr Gwilym Wren, whose Upper Tone division includes the solar site, said he had mixed feelings about the proposals.

Cllr Wren said: “The loss of high-grade agricultural land is a serious matter.

“I am also not entirely happy with the applicant’s rationale, which is that this is the only suitable place in the area.

“This land has been in continuous arable use for some years, and if you do that its fertility starts to deplete.

“I am an advocate of giving land a rest so it can come back, but I am not at all convinced that sheep are the best solution here.”

Neighbouring Somerset division Cllr Mike Rigby said the solar farm would have a minute impact on residents’ lives compared to recent house-building.

Cllr Rigby said: “As we sit here, more than half of our electricity is being provided by renewable resources.

“In order to fulfil the aims of our climate emergency, we will need a lot more than that.

“I think we need a really good reason to refuse new energy generation in our area.

“I have had several solar arrays built in my division, and the effects have been fairly negligible compared to 173 new houses being built on the edge of my village (Bishop’s Lydeard).

“I think this strikes the right balance.”

Cllr Caroline Ellis said: “This seems to be an altogether better scheme than some.

“I am impressed by the biodiversity net gain.

“I would love to have solar panels on every roof, but that is not going to happen fast enough.”

The committee voted to approve the plans by eight votes to none, with three abstentions.

Construction is expected to begin later this year.