A SOLAR Farm on land outside of Kingsbridge will be a 'huge scar on the landscape' according to one resident.

A planning application for a solar farm has been registered with South Hams Council for a site at Lower Slade Farm, Belle Hill. The application will see the installation of a ground mounted solar array covering 9.88 hectares, with 15,360 solar panels.

The application has been made by TGC Renewables who are currently in the process of building the UK's biggest solar project at Marley Thatch Farm, South Brent.

The design and access statement from TGC Renewables states: 'The purpose of the solar farm is to provide a clean, renewable and sustainable form of electricity which will help meet the Government's target of 20 per cent renewables by 2020.

'TGC looked at a variety of locations for the proposed development. It was decided to proceed with a proposal at this location within Lower Slade Farm and Newparks Fields due to the land being south-facing ensuring optimal energy production; it's fairly well screened, reducing landscape impact.'

The development will provide 3.61MWp of renewable energy – enough electricity for around 1,044 homes.

The company held a community consultation event in June 2012 which 20 people attended. This week Peter McLaren, senior planner for TGC Renewables, addressed the town council planning committee to outline their plans.

Resident of Belle Cross Road Phil Howling attended the meeting and said: 'I was the only member of public at last night's meeting. It's a 40-acre site within 100 metres of Kingsbridge town but there was no one there. I only heard about it 24 hours before the meeting. I am surprised and shocked that there was no one there but me. It's quite alarming. This has really snuck under the radar.

'Solar farms are so horrible, they really are ugly and huge. I heard some rumblings about this but I didn't realise that it would be 100 metres from the town.

'My points were well received at the meeting. My main concern is that for the last nine month residents of Belle Cross Road have had to put up with flooding. There has been water pouring through my land. Obviously we have had an unprecedented amount of rain, but the farmers are not giving any thought to the management of the land. A solar farm will only exacerbate the problem.

'I am not against renewable energy but you will not be able to go for a walk in the local area without seeing this huge scar on the landscape.

'I'm really worried about it and I am amazed it got this far.'

The planning committee resolved to defer the planning application to its next committee meeting to be held at 6pm on Tuesday, March 19.

This will still allow time for KTC to provide a recommendation to the district council.

Councillors were conscious that the plans had only recently come into the public domain and therefore considered that more local residents needed to see them. The company's planning officer will return to Kingsbridge for that second meeting.

Mr Howling explained that the planner agreed that further public consultation was needed.

Other solar farm applications proposed for the South Hams include Beech Tor Farm in Kingston, Southdown Farm in Dartington and Blue Post Lane and Hazard Farm in Harberton.