A SOLAR farm set for green belt land at Lytchett Matravers has been sold as part of a portfolio worth £83m.

Work on the farm, comprised of three sites, could be just days away from starting – and the sale is not expected to change this.

Conergy and Camborne Energy, the firm behind the original proposal for the Lytchett Matravers venture, has sold its portfolio of five planned solar farms to Primrose Solar.

Primrose Solar is backed by global investment management firm York Capital Management and UK private equity investor Pioneer Point partners.

Clare Lees, landowner of the site at Lytchett Matravers, told the Daily Echo she was set to meet representatives of the new company in the next couple of weeks.

She also stressed the sale was unlikely to affect any construction timetable.

Engineers are likely to start building the Lytchett Matravers plant in a matter of days, said Mrs Lees.

“I have a contractual agreement where I’m paid a price per acre,” she explained.

“So my interests are not really affected.

“Planning permission has been granted. Work should start next week. It is all happening.”

The Dorset farm is comprised of three sites, ranging from 13.7 to 16.7 hectares. During the planning process it was the smallest of these three sites – at Newton Farm North – that caused the most consternation among villagers.

Before the scheme received backing by district planners earlier this year, campaigner Phil Jones, of Eddy Green Road, said neighbours were angry because the Newton Farm North site was recognised for its ‘particular landscape quality’.

The other two sites are at Newton Farm South and Race Farm.

Commenting on the latest multi-million pound deal, Camborne Energy managing director Jonathan Townend said: “We have been able to offer our landowners and the buyers the benefits of an integrated approach – Camborne Energy’s professional development services, married with Conergy’s technical expertise and construction capabilities.

“This is our first group sale of assets from our larger portfolio currently under development.”

Construction on the Lytchett Matravers project is expected to be completed by the end of March 2014.