A SECOND solar farm will be built at a Parley recycling centre over the winter creating one of the largest renewable energy sites in the South.

The 76.7 hectare scheme at Eco Sustainable Solutions, approved by Christchurch councillors last week, is expected to contribute around 36 megawatts to the National Grid throughout its 25 year lifespan.

Despite opposition from Hurn and Parley parish councils, the new photovoltaic array will join a separate 48 hectare solar farm run by British Solar Renewables on the recycling firm’s land.

Trelawney Dampney, Eco’s managing director, said: “We are very pleased that this has been approved, I think I am right in saying that this makes us one of the biggest renewable energy sites in the south of England.

“It is certainly a great contribution to Dorset’s renewable energy needs, and will be fairly low impact since you would struggle to see the panels without flying overhead.”

Parish councillors opposed the plans on the basis that it was inappropriate for the Green Belt, but Mr Dampney has agreed to make a financial contribution to both Hurn and Parley.

Hurn Parish Council chairman Margaret Phipps said: “We didn’t withdraw our objection because we still don’t think it is appropriate, but we are delighted about this contribution.

“We are very grateful to the developer, who did make a generous offer of £60,000 divided between the councils, and it was entirely voluntary – I simply asked him to consider it.

“It will be marvellous for the parish council to have that sort of money available for local projects.”

The farm’s PV panels will be ground mounted on racks angled at 30 degrees and between 2ft 7ins and 9ft 6ins high, at a height which will allow the land to still be used for agricultural purposes, specifically sheep grazing.

Eco also produces wood and food waste fuel at Parley for biomass plants, and runs an anaerobic digester in Piddlehinton.

Construction on the British Solar Renewables (formerly Solar Power Generation Ltd) farm is under way and the scheme is expected to deliver some 20MW of electricity.