Plans for a 170-acre solar farm in the Fens look set to get the go-ahead despite objections.

West Norfolk council's planning committee is being recommended to approve plans for 125,000 panels on land north and south of Harps Hall Road at Walton Highway, Near Wisbech.

Developer Downing Renewable Developments says it has chosen the site after "a systematic and strategic regional appraisal"

It says: "The development has a capacity in the region of 49.9MW of clean energy, including associated battery storage.

"It is therefore estimated to be capable of powering enough renewable energy to power approximately 12,000- 14,000 homes."

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It adds the proposed solar panels, battery compound and access tracks will cover an area of approximately 172 acres across the site, with a further 130 acres dedicated to "biodiversity enhancement".

And it says there would be no impact on food security, as the land is used to grow green energy crops used for the production of biogas.

West Walton Parish Council objects to "the level of noise and disturbance that will be inflicted upon the residents during construction, throughout the lifetime of the operation of the solar farm, and its decommissioning". 

Walsoken Parish Council, which also objects, fears the farm is a fire risk, while the land is "good grade arable land and should remain so being used for food particularly in the current economic climate".

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England said: "CPRE Norfolk fully acknowledges and supports the need for solar energy generation, but this should not be sited on food-producing, attractive countryside."

Sixteen objections have been received from members of the public.

Marshland Parish Council supports the scheme. Borough councillor Julian Kirk, who lives at Meerdyke Farm, in the middle of the site, said: "If it became a solar farm ground nesting birds would be protected and hare coursing would be stopped."

If given the go-ahead, the farm would have a working life of 30 years.

West Norfolk's planning committee will discuss the scheme when it meets on Monday, April 24.