Plans to build solar farm on three fields in Essex near Brentwood

Plans have been submitted for a solar farm in Brentwood that will power enough electricity for more than 5,000 homes. If approved, the proposed development on Old Church Lane in Mountnessing is expected to generate enough renewable energy to meet the annual electricity needs of approximately 5,187 homes.

Plans describe the 16.5-hectare site adjacent to the Shenfield and Hutton Sewage Treatment Works as agricultural land, with three arable fields classified as Grade 3b. The site is intended to retain its agricultural use whilst the proposed development is operational with sheep grazing.

A planning statement said: "The proposed development would provide a clean, renewable and sustainable form of electricity. It would make a valuable contribution to the decarbonisation of electricity generation and would help to meet climate change targets.

Read more: The Essex car park developers want to build more than 30 homes on

Read more: The beautiful Essex park with huge woodland and pretty lake that could get holiday lodges and cabins

"The proposed development will also help meet the objectives for the UK’s power system in terms of ensuring that energy generation remains secure, reliable and affordable. The principle of supporting proposals for solar generating stations is strongly supported by both local and national planning policy."

However, the company behind it, Conrad Energy, acknowledges harm to the green belt, but this is outweighed by the benefits it will bring. It said: "This represents very special circumstances which outweighs the harm associated with the proposed development as inappropriate development in the green belt. In any event, this harm is limited, particularly given that the proposed development is both temporary and reversible.”