Test Valley planners have rejected plans for a new solar farm on the Broadlands estate near Romsey

The bid to build the farm on the historic Broadlands estate, near Romsey, was previously accepted by Test Valley Borough Council’s southern area planning committee – despite it being recommended for refusal by planning chiefs who said it would be an “unacceptable” blot on the landscape.

But that decision was overturned by the Test Valley Borough Council planning control committee.

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, Energy firm Solarcentury wants to build the 86-acre facility on farmland at the estate, with 57,000 panels and providing enough energy to power more than 4,400 homes.

It is the second controversial plan for the estate – which is owned by Lord and Lady Brabourne and was the former home of Lord Mountbatten – after residents fought plans for a Tesco store which were later scrapped.

Earlier this year, the plans for Grove Solar Farm went on display at Woodley Village Hall, and they were met with a mixed response from residents, with some concerned about its visual impact.

Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North Caroline Nokes, pictured, said at the time that it was important to look at alternative sources of energy but schemes like that must be unobtrusive and not impact on the landscape.

Caroline Nokes

One of those who attended the meeting, but didn’t vote on the matter, was Liberal Democrat Romsey and Tadburn councillor Mark Cooper – who was originally in favour of the solar farm, but has since changed his mind.

Cllr Cooper, said: “It was a most interesting debate, it is one of the rare occasions that I heard a debate which changed my mind so I can understand why it was refused.

“Cllr Ward made a very good point when he said the application was not about green energy, it was about grabbing Government grant funding for solar energy schemes before they will be removed next year.

“And that since that money comes from the tax payer in any event the point was put quite strongly that it would be wrong to use that money to change the landscape of Test Valley so significantly.”

Cllr Mark Cooper

Broadlands Estate manager Richard Jordan-Baker said the money from the solar farm would have not been “life changing” but would have helped to enhance and maintain the estate.

He said: “I am not surprised, I am disappointed and I think it is a shame that the councillors failed to see the benefit of the scheme and failed to see the opportunity that it presented Test Valley and the future of Broadlands.”

A spokesman for Solarcentury said: “We are very disappointed and we are going to have a think about it and look at our options.

“There was a lot of support for it and that is going to factor into our thinking.”

She added that an appeal is one of the options that they may look at, but a decision on the next move has not been made.