PLANS for a 20,000-panel solar farm in the New Forest have been thrown out by national park authority bosses in an attempt to conserve the area.

Renewable energy firm Locogen had intended the 14-acre project to be built on land at Limolands Farm in Vaggs Lane, Hordle.

The company argued that the development would have produced electricity and acted as a way of bringing money into the farm.

But the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) refused the plans and voted against the project on the basis that it was an inappropriate development.

Oliver Crosthwaite-Eyre, chairman of the NPA, said: “This is a very easy decision for us to make and our officers have made the right recommendation.

“This is industrialisation of our national park and our prime duty is to conserve it.”

The project was due to be constructed on two separate fields and was thrown out despite Hordle Parish Council indicating support, while organisations including the Environment Agency and Natural England raised no objections.

Ian McLean, speaking on behalf of Locogen, told NPA members that the firm had tried to address concerns by lowering fences around the farm to make it less visible.