Plans to build a solar farm on Green Belt land in North Hertfordshire have been recommended for approval, despite hundreds of objections.

On Thursday, North Herts Council's Planning Control Committee is set to discuss a planning application for a solar farm within 106 hectares of land north east of Wandon End.

Three parish councils - Offley, Lilley and Kings Walden -  and 400 residents have lodged their objections with the council, with concerns including "inappropriate development on Green Belt land", and that the energy would go to the Luton grid, rather than benefitting North Herts residents.

The whole of the application site within North Hertfordshire, which comprises a series of agricultural fields, is located within the Green Belt.

The council's planning officer has determined that the proposed development would be inappropriate development within the Green Belt, and that, "by virtue of its scale and nature, would result in inevitable adverse landscape and visual impacts".

However, she concluded: "It is considered that the harm caused by the proposed development to Green Belt, landscape and heritage is clearly outweighed by other considerations, namely the contribution of renewable energy to the district in a climate change emergency."

Benefits to the local economy, biodiversity, landscape post decommissioning, and limited benefits to flood risk and drainage, were also cited.

Meanwhile, the applicant has noted the benefits arising from solar energy development, including: energy security and subsequent reduced reliance on imported and fossil fuels, and environmental benefits to climate change, biodiversity and local sustainability.

The planning officer has recommended that the council's Planning Control Committee approves the plans for the solar farm, subject to referral of the application to the Secretary of State.

Last month, plans were approved for a solar farm on a 53.6 hectare field in the North Baldock Chalk Uplands in Bygrave and, in March, permission was granted for an 84.7 hectare solar farm in Great Wymondley.

Meanwhile, planning permission for a solar farm in St Ippolyts was refused last year due to concerns over its impact on the landscape.

To view the Wandon End plans in full, visit north-herts.gov.uk and search for reference 22/03231/FP in the planning portal.