They said the panels would deliver up to 49.99MW of renewable energy and 10MW could be stored. The application was recommended for approval by council officers who said it would be “temporary and low scale” and considered the land to be grey belt – a site considered to make only a limited contribution to the green belt. An agent for the developer said the scheme had “significant benefits” and would support “both local and national renewable energy and decarbonisation targets”. “I think we need more renewable energy and I 100 per cent understand why farming communities are looking to things like solar in the current situation – but there are alternative places.” The solar farm was approved with four voting in favour and one against.