A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build a solar farm in Upton Warren, providing electricity for more than 2,000 homes, will not go ahead after it was thrown out by the planning inspectorate.

The application proposed 33,748 solar panels be mounted on frames, up to around two metres in height and arranged in rows on land at Rectory Farm off Grafton Lane in Upton Warren.

The land, 19 hectares in size and next to the M5, is located in Wychavon, but part of it is covered by Bromsgrove District Council.

Green Switch Developments' proposal was first rejected by Wychavon District Council's planning committee last August, then by Bromsgrove planners a month later.

Both authorities' committees rejected it on the basis it was considered inappropriate development within the greenbelt. Councillors felt the need for renewable energy - and the scheme being able to generate enough power to 2,682 homes for 25 years - did not outweigh the harm to the green belt.

An appeal was then lodged, and the planning inspectorate carried out a site visit in January.

Inspector Vicki Hirst recommended that the appeal should be dismissed and planning permission refused - a decision Communities Secretary Greg Clark then agreed with.

In the appeal decision, the conclusion read: "The Secretary of State is satisfied that the harm which this scheme would cause to the openness of the green belt and any other harm would not be clearly outweighed by other considerations, and that the very special circumstances have not been demonstrated to justify this development."

The decision also revealed that Mr Clark agreed with the inspector's verdict that the scheme would be an "incongruous and alien intrusion", and would be "harmful to the landscape and character of the area".

Chairman of Upton Warren Parish Council, Richard Edgington, said the application first came to the light in 2014, and the parish council held public meetings with residents.

Mr Edgington said: "The parish council took the view of residents, and they expressed the view they were against it - on the grounds it was intruding on the green belt."

He added this was the latest development in an ongoing saga, which may not yet be over if there is an appeal to the High Court.

But a spokesman for Green Switch developments said he "doubted" there would be a further appeal.

"We try our best to find suitable sites, but it is a decision for authorities whether to give permission," the spokesman said.

"We wish it could have gone ahead, but it has been an uphill battle with this one - it became clear it would be difficult to get planning permission."