A PLAN to build a solar farm costing £10million at Winchfield has been withdrawn after opposition from villagers.

Energy firm TGC Renewables wanted to install 30,000 solar panels on 42 acres of arable land near Bagwell Lane, which would have been able to power 1,000 homes.

Villagers raised concerns at a consultation evening held at the village hall in February, claiming the solar farm would be an eyesore, take up good quality agricultural land and would harm wildlife living in the adjacent Odiham Common.

A meeting of Winchfield Parish Council heard the firm now does not want to continue with the Bagwell Lane site, and instead wants to build a smaller solar farm between Winchfield and Hartley Wintney.

The new site is next to a chicken shed and lies between the railway line and the M3 motorway.

Councillor Andrew Renshaw, chairman of the parish council, said he received an email from the company confirming the change of plan. He added the company made the decision “following the community consultation evening”.

“This is an excellent outcome,” said Cllr Renshaw. “It is good that TGC Renewables did take up our concern that they had really found the worst field for a solar farm and that there are more suitable sites elsewhere.

“The new site is actually two fields separated down the middle with the parish line boundary between Winchfield and Hartley Wintney. I hope that we can support it and Hartley Wintney will too.”

The firm has made a request to Hart District Council to see if an environmental impact assessment would be necessary for the new site before a planning application is made.

It will also hold another consultation with Winchfield residents in the village hall on the afternoon of Friday, May 31.