PLANS for a new solar farm near South Wonston have been approved.

An application for the renewable energy site were first submitted in October last year.

After being evaluated by Winchester City Council officers, permission has been granted – much to the delight of a local climate action group.

David Jones, Trustee and Chair of WinACC’s Renewable Energy Action Group said: "This is excellent news for Winchester district and is hopefully the first of many solar farm approvals - our district should deliver its fair share of renewable energy as the UK transitions to a zero-carbon economy by 2050.

"Winchester residents have a far higher carbon footprint than the average UK citizen, and with high levels of solar radiation available in our district it is only right that we allocate a portion of our low grade agricultural land to hosting temporary solar farms such as this one at Christmas Hill. Plus, an increase in biodiversity makes this a win-win for us all."

The plans attracted five letters of objection, but twice as many letters of support.

A spokesperson for WinACC added: "Winchester district is well-suited to hosting solar farms, with some of the highest levels of solar radiation in the UK.

"The Christmas Hill site is ideal for a solar farm: being wedged into the v-intersection of main roads the site is largely hidden from surrounding viewpoints.

"Built into the approval of the application for the new solar farm is a wealth of measures to increase the biodiversity of nature on the site, including planting of new screening hedgerows, additional hazel scrub underplanting, adjusting security fences to allow free movement of wildlife, encouragement of chalk grassland with wildflowers and additional bird nesting provision."

No development or site preparation works shall commence until protective fencing has been erected around the Worthy Down Ditch and Bronze Age Burial monument.