Council reject solar-farm plan

Plans for a £25m solar park near Ipswich have been rejected.

Every single member of Babergh District Council's planning committee voted against the proposals, which would see more than 90 acres of farmland replaced with thousands of solar panels.

Watch Jenny Line's report.

The energy company behind plans to build a solar farm in the Suffolk countryside say they will appeal a council's decision to reject it.

Babergh District Council today refused consent for the solar park at Valley Farm near Tattingstone.

It was turned down on the grounds of its visual impact and that it's agricultural land.

The developer, Hive Energy, said it will appeal the decision, which means the application will be considered and determined by an independent planning inspector at a public inquiry.

Giles Redpath, Chief Executive of Hive Energy, said today “We are disappointed that the planning committee chose not to follow their officer’s advice.

"Our application follows both local and national planning policy and so it is likely that we will be appealing this decision.”

Plans for a 95-acre solar farm in the Suffolk countryside have been thrown out by councillors.

The £25 million scheme at Valley Farm in Tattingstone, near Ipswich, was unanimously rejected by Babergh District Council's planning committee.

A decision is expected today over a 95-acre solar farm in the heart of the Suffolk countryside.

The proposals for a 43,000-panel solar farm at Tattingstone near Ipswich are being discussed by Babergh District Council.

The scheme was recommended for approval by the council's planning officers.

The £25m proposals at Valley Farm near Alton Reservoir have been objected to by several parish councils and the actor Griff Rhys Jones.

The developer Hive Energy said the farm would generate enough electricity to power 6,000 homes.

A row over plans to build a solar power farm in the heart of Suffolk countryside is being backed by comedian Griff Rhys Jones who lives nearby.

A renewable energy company has submitted plans to build the farm near Alton Water reservoir.

A final decision on the plans has been put back to next month. Residents at Tattingstone say it will ruin the beauty spot.

Controversial plans to build a solar farm close to a beauty spot at Tattingstone in Suffolk have been delayed for a month.

Comedian Griff Rhys Jones is against the plans to develope an area close to Alton Water resevoir near Ipswich. If approved, the renewable energy plant would provide power to more than five thousand homes, but campaigners say it will ruin the countryside.