PLANS for a major solar farm on best quality land have attracted close to 200 objections and have been recommended for refusal by planners.

Next Wednesday (5 February), members of Babergh's planning committee will be discussing plans submitted by Green Switch Capital for a solar farm on 48.30 hectares of land between Potash Lane and Church Road, in Bentley, near Ipswich.

The solar farm, with up to 40 megawatts of export capacity, would be built alongside ancillary infrastructure and cabling, two substations, and new vehicular accesses.

According to council papers, the solar farm would be mostly located on land of the best quality for agriculture.

Although the plans received 13 letters of support, the overwhelming local feedback was in opposition.

In total, there were objections submitted by 175 residents as well as Bentley, Capel St Mary, and Tattingstone parish councils.

The biggest concerns raised included the potential negative impacts on the landscape, nature, heritage, and traffic.

A statement submitted on behalf of the company read: "Overall, the residual impacts of the proposed development are judged to be acceptable in both the short, medium and long-term.

"The level of policy tension as a result of adverse harm is limited, and considered to be significantly outweighed by the potential benefits of the proposed development."

Despite this, however, planners at the council agreed with residents and concluded the proposals would result in significant landscape and heritage harm.

The officer's report reads: "Whilst significant weight is afforded to the public benefits of renewable clean energy, this benefit is not considered sufficient to outweigh the harm to a range of heritage assets.

"The setting of these assets and thus their significance would be eroded and undermined by the proposed development."

The application is recommended for refusal.

The full application and all documentation can be accessed via this link.