PLANS for than 10,000 solar panels that will produce enough power for 1,500 homes have been given the go-ahead.

Lightsource SPV 72 has been given permission by Tendring Council to build the 16,000-panel site at Barn Farm, in Wix Road, Bradfield.

There are currently four applications for solar farms in Bradfield and Wix, with two approved and the other two refused, although one is subject to an appeal.

Members of the council’s planning committee felt the Barn Farm site was the most acceptable of the four and would make a valuable contribution to the National Grid.

Anti-solar farm campaigners Wix Against Solar Proliferation are disappointed at the decision.

Spokesman Ed Abbott said: “The planning committee is there to protect the area, and it has failed to do so by allowing this to be built.”

Council planning boss Carlo Guglielmi said: “We need to produce 15 per cent of our energy by renewable sources by 2020 and it must come from somewhere.

“This site is quite acceptable and will only impact on two properties.

“We need to fulfil our responsibilities and we must not lose sight of that.”