A SOLAR farm the size of more than 80 football pitches is set to be built on a historic Hampshire estate after a planning inspector finally gave the schemes the go ahead.

The decision marks the end of a lengthy planning battle over the plans for the farm on the Broadlands Estate near Romsey, after they were initially rejected by planning chiefs.

Solarcentury originally came forward with the bid to build 57,000 panels – enough to power more than 4,400 homes – on the 86-acre site last year.

The plans proved controversial, with some residents branding them an “eyesore” and the council’s planning officers recommending refusal on impact grounds.

, saying it would have an “unacceptable” impact on the landscape.

However, 47 letters supporting the bid were received by the council, with only one letter opposing it.

the planning application.

Councillors on the Southern Area Planning Committee went against officers’ recommendations to approve the plans last year – but the council’s Planning Control Committee then rejected it.

However, Solarcentury appealed the decision, with a public inquiry hearing from both sides in July.

Some residents reiterated their opposition to the plans again, voicing concerns about its visual impact, the impact of vehicle movements and that it would mean less land was available for agricultural use.

The firm said native seeds would be sown at the site to protect the environment, while Broadlands Estate’s manager Richard Jordon Barker had previously said the proposal was “vital” to the estate and would not create traffic or noise issues.

The final decision lay in the hands of planning inspector Sukie Tamplin, who said that the farm would create a “considerable” amount of energy that would be equivalent to proving power for all of the homes in Romsey.

She added: “In terms of the landscape, I have found that there would be some harm but that this would reduce over time as the landscaping and biodiversity measures mature.”

She said that while there would be some visual impact it would be “restricted” because the site was enclosed within a “shallow bowl”, and would diminish over time with the site only being operational for 25 years.

Reaction to the decision has been mixed, with borough councillor Nigel Anderdon saying: “I felt it was the right thing in the wrong place, so I’ve got mixed feelings.

“I think it would have better if it was further away from the road and further into the estate. We need these farms but I want to put them where they don’t show up.”

It marks the end of a second lengthy planning battle over proposals for the estate, which is owned by Lord and Lady Brabourne and was the former home of Lord Mountbatten.

Residents had previously also opposed proposals for a Tesco store at the site and they were later axed by the supermarket giant.