CONTROVERSIAL plans for a giant solar farm the size of more than 80 football pitches on an historic estate have been given the green light.

The bid to build the farm on land belonging to Broadlands was previously recommended for refusal by planning officers who said it would be an “unacceptable” blot on the landscape.

However, councillors on Test Valley Borough Council’s Southern Area Planning Committee voted to approve the plans this week.

As previously reported, energy firm Solarcentury want to build the 86-acre facility on farmland at Lee.

The proposed 57,000 panels would generate enough energy to power more than 4,400 homes.

The plan was seen as a money-spinner for the estate after its controversial proposals to site a Tesco store on the Fairground site on the edge of Romsey fell through.

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

Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, Caroline Nokes, said at the time it was important to look at alternative sources of energy but schemes like this must be unobtrusive in the landscape.

There were 47 letters of support from residents, with just one objection.

At Tuesday night’s planning meeting, Broadlands Estate’s manager, Richard Jordon Baker, pleaded with councillors to accept the plans, saying the proposed solar farm was “vital” to the estate.

He said: “From Broadlands’ perspective it will provide an additional income to the estate. This application does not bring noise or traffic and does not affect any part of life in Romsey, apart from bringing in sustainable energy.”

Also supporting the proposal was Liberal Democrat Romsey and Tadburn councillor Mark Cooper, who said it would be “mad” to refuse the proposal.

Fellow Lib Dem Alan Dowden said: “I think this is an opportunity for Test Valley to approve this and play our part as a council.

“This is not housing, this is 25 years only and then it will be taken away and our children in the future will benefit from this.”

However planning panel chairman Phil Bundy said: “My concern is about the industrialisation of this part of land between Romsey and Rownhams.”

Nigel Anderdon said he believed it was the right idea but in the wrong place and it would be visually intrusive for drivers on the A3057 road.

Plans were approved by ten votes to three subject to conditions.

However as councillors went against officers’ recommendations the matter will now have to go before the council’s planning control committee.

Mr  Jordan-Baker told the Advertiser:“We are reassured that members of the Southern Area Planning Committee saw the potential benefit that a solar park on the Broadlands Estate could bring to the area and recognised that the impact on the landscape would be very limited. We look forward to the Planning Control Committee next week and hope that councillors also recognise these benefits.”