A 47,000 panel solar farm, which could power 3,000 homes, will be built in Yarnton.

Members of Cherwell District Council’s planning committee agreed to the plans submitted by Roc Energy Ltd for a 18.25 hectare site on Thursday.

It will be on two grazing fields south east of Yarnton and North of Woodstock Road in Green Belt land. The panels will be 2.37 metres high and pointed in an east-west direction.

Michael Gibbard, lead member for planning, said: “Although this site lies within the Oxford Green Belt, councillors argued it was a suitable development as the benefits brought by the renewable energy will significantly outweigh any harm to the location.Although the site is bordered by the Oxford Canal and the A44 is nearby, the solar farm will not be visually prominent to traffic, walkers or canal boat users because of the dense vegetation.”

The farm has temporary permission for 25 years and will be capable of creating energy for about 3,125 homes.

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