A SENIOR city councillor is calling for the siting of a proposed solar farm to be reconsidered.

Developer Novus and Innova are proposing the solar farm at Pitt Down south of Sarum Road, Sparsholt and Farley Mount.

Local city councillor Caroline Horrill, whose ward includes Sparsholt, said the scheme would destroy a "wonderful view". The proposal is for prominent land on the south-facing Pitt Down, west of Winchester.

She said: "The desire to provide renewable energy is a positive initiative but the location of the solar farm should ensure that the landscape is not adversely impacted.

"The proposed location of the South Lynch Farm which is adjacent to a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Clarendon Way is destroying a wonderful view in a part of the District countryside which people flocked to during Covid. The fact the panels are to be located on an incline make the visibility even more impactful."

READ MORE HERE: Plans for major solar farm in countryside

Cllr Horrill added: "The proposed site is large enough for an alternative location to be considered which we hope the landowner will consider."

The scheme is for the land north of South Lynch Farm and is set to generate up to 20MWp.

Novus and Innova are still in the pre-application stage, with a formal application yet to be submitted to Winchester City Council.

In the planning document, it said: “We are proposing a solar farm on land north of South Lynch Farm, approximately 3.5km north of Hursley village. 

“This will offset the annual energy needs of approximately 4,722 homes in Winchester City Council's authority area and save around 4,054 tonnes of CO2.

“At a local level, Winchester City Council has declared a climate emergency in June 2019 and is committed to becoming a carbon-neutral local authority by 2024 and is aiming for the wider district to be carbon neutral by 2030.

SEE MORE: Proposal for new solar farm near Wickham

“If approved, the development would be constructed over a period of approximately four months. The solar farm would then be operational for a period of 40 years, needing only occasional maintenance. At the end of this period, the development would be decommissioned, and the land restored to its previous condition. 

Nicola Jones, senior planning manager at Innova, said: "We attended the Sparsholt Parish Council meeting on November 17 where we provided a presentation and held a Q&A session.

"From this, we received a number of constructive comments from the parish councillors and members of the public which we are taking on board and currently reviewing prior to the submission of the planning application."