An appeal has been lodged after plans for a controversial solar farm on the outskirts of the Halstead area were refused.

Sovereign Partners wants to create a giant solar farm, comprising of 25,000 panels, with associated infrastructure on fields at Big Deere Lodge Field, Church Street, Belchamp St Paul.

But plans were refused by Braintree Council in April this year following their submission in July last year.

In the council’s statement for refusal, it was noted: “The local planning authority does not accept that it has been demonstrated that there is a necessity for a large scale solar farm development on this site.

“Whilst there is a national need for more renewable energy the Government has made it clear that new Solar PV capacity should be focused on brownfield sites and roofspace on buildings.”