CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a solar farm in an area of outstanding natural beauty have been given the go ahead on appeal.

In July last year, Wiltshire Council rejected the scheme for 42 solar panels on a hillside in Swallowcliffe, a small village near Tisbury.

The panels would help power Grade II listed Swallowcliffe Manor, which is unable to build the panels on the roof because of its historic importance.

A planning inspector visited the site on February 9 and has granted permission for the scheme proposed by applicant David Matthews.

The inspector, Rebecca Phillips, said there would be "very limited views" and "fleeting glimpses" of the panels from the surrounding area, once hedge screening was in place.

She said the panels would be discreet, would not stand out against the skyline, and would "not detract from the predominantly muted, natural tones of the surrounding buildings and landscape".

"The proposal would not have any significant effect on the qualities of the AONB or its setting," she wrote.

An objection from the site's closest neighbour, Brooke House, was considered, but the inspector ruled: "Given the distance from the appeal site and the intervening hedgerows, together with the proposed planting, I do not consider that there would be any unacceptable harm to the living conditions of the occupiers of this dwelling."

Concluding, she wrote: "I understand the concerns expressed by a number of objectors to the appeal scheme, and clearly it is important that local views are taken into account.

"However, those views must be weighed together with all the other material considerations.

"National policies establish the weight to be accorded to the need to provide for renewable energy development.

"In this case I find that there would be no significant harm to the character or appearance of the landscape or AONB. "Whilst there would be changes to the views from some nearby residential properties and to the appearance of the site when seen from some views, these changes would not result in any unacceptable harm."

Twenty-one letters were sent to Wiltshire Council about the proposals, and objectors included Swallowcliffe Parish Council and Salisbury Civic Society.