PLANS for another solar farm in south Warwickshire are set to get the go-ahead despite objections from residents.
Warwick District Council planning committee has been recommended to grant permission for the 33.6 hectre farm near Sherbourne when it meets to consider the application on Tuesday (August 15).
But both Barford, Sherbourne & Wasperton Joint Parish Council and Budbrooke Parish Council respectively are opposed to the move.
The site, the equivalent of around 63 football pitches, is currently agricultural land within the green belt and is arranged in two parcels with a connecting cable corridor. It is around 1km from the village of Sherbourne and also close to the M40 and A46 by-pass.
Previous applications for solar farms close by saw one withdrawn and another refused permission.
Barford, Sherbourne & Wasperton Joint Parish Council said too many unanswered questions remained following the previously withdrawn application, and the area adjacent to the site previously refused permission was also on green belt land.
Budbrooke Parish Council has raised concerns over connectivity to the substation and the potential for haulage routes to impact highway safety.
A number of objections have also been received from the public, again citing the use of green belt land, together with loss of farmland and the ecological impact.
The application is seeking permission to operate the farm for 40 years and WDC could may apply planning conditions to ensure the land was restored to its previous greenfield use if the operation was halted.
When determining planning applications for renewable and low carbon development, local planning authorities should not require applicants to demonstrate the overall need for renewable or low carbon energy and recognise that even small-scale projects provide a valuable contribution to cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
