A HUGE solar farm earmarked for land owned by South Dorset MP Richard Drax is being recommended for approval – despite hundreds of objections from residents.

The application for Mapperton Farm on a site the size of of almost 70 football pitches just off the A31 at Almer will be discussed at a planning meeting this month.

Planning permission was previously granted for the scheme but this was quashed by the High Court following a Judicial Review.

East Dorset District Council now must make a fresh decision on the plans by Good Energy, which have been amended and propose a scaled down solar farm, but critics say is still too big.

The site would occupy 42.8 hectares (104 acres) – previously it was more than 70 hectares (174 acres).

There would be 90,000 solar panels – down from 112,000 – generating enough electricity to supply more than 6,300 homes.

Councillors will be told there are more than 650 objections to the plans. There are also more than 50 letters of support.

Officers are recommending the scheme is backed subject to conditions.

A report says: "The proposal would contribute significantly to the UK's target of 15 per cent of its energy generation from renewables by 2020, and also the target of 7.5 per cent from local sources, whilst emitting no pollution during operation. This is of great importance in today's times of predicted future energy shortages, and will help Dorset and the UK to be more self-sufficient in terms of energy generation."

The report says the application site is not in or immediately adjacent to any nationally designated landscape areas and would only have a minor landscape and visual impact.

It adds: The ecological enhancements that would arise from the proposal are a significant benefit."

Mapperton Preservation Group and Dorset CPRE claimed the scheme represents 'damaging industrialisation of the beautiful countryside'.

They are objecting on the grounds it will affect a protected landscape, as well as 'visual intrusion, adverse impact to amenity and heritage assets, and the use of grade 3a good arable land'.

Katharine Butler, a representative of MPG, said: “We would not object to a solar farm of 40 acres, but this is an industrially sized project in a beautiful landscape."

Rupert Hardy from the group said the farm would be a 'blight on the landscape of Thomas Hardy’s Wessex'.

Dorset CPRE said it supports renewable energy in principle and is not opposing the majority of solar farm applications.

But it says this scheme is in unspoilt countryside, on good agricultural land and protected by national and local planning policies.

The planning meeting is on Tuesday, June 23 at the council offices in Furzehill, Wimborne.