A CONTROVERSIAL solar farm in Ardleigh has been given the green light despite protests.

Sunsave 28 submitted plans for the 9.5MW solar farm over 16 hectares of land at Chancery Farm, in Park Road.

The solar farm, which is expected to remain in place for 30 years, will produce enough electricity for 3,000 homes.

Residents are angry that the 6ft solar panels will be surrounded by a 2.2m-high security fence.

They called for solar farms to be on rooftops and brownfield sites rather than on high-grade agricultural land.

Nearby resident Lee Partridge, of Burnt Heath, said: “This application is purely about money.

“Solar farms should not be up against residential settlements and people’s back gardens.

"Hundreds of local residents object.”

The council received more than 200 letters against the solar panels on the 18 hectare site – and around 100 backing the idea.

But farmer Jonathan Hardy, whose family runs the operation, said they needed the funding from the solar farm to invest into the business to plant 5,000 new trees.

“It is required for us to survive and grow, create employment and new opportunities,” he added.

“Without this project, this year will be the last fruit harvest for the farm."

Tendring Council’s planning committee approved the plans by six votes to five atameeting on Tuesday night.