PLANS for a solar farm near Oswestry have been given the go-ahead by planners after a new, pared-back version of the plans was created.

The application put forward by Positech Energy Limited for the building of 3,024 solar panels at land north of Greenfields Lane on Cefn-y-Maes Farm, Rhydycroesau, had been recommended for refusal by officers.

But Shropshire Council has now confirmed that permission for the solar farm was granted at a meeting on Tuesday ( October 11).

Full reasons for the decision are expected to be published in the coming days.

The farm will include solar panels and associated equipment namely inverters, site and DNO substations, battery energy storage units, two metre-high deer fence with gates, formation of a permanent access road, CCTV cameras and a weather station mounted on galvanised steel masts inside the solar park.

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A previous set of plans for 3,240 panels on the site was refused in June this year.

As well as a reduction in the number of panels, the angle of the panels has been reduced from 30 degrees to 25 degrees and the number of panel rows has been reduced from 18 to 14.

But it had still been in line for refusal before the meeting this week.

In a report to councillors, planning officers wrote: The proposal results in harm to the setting of the Scheduled Ancient Monument, Offa's Dyke.

"Clear and convincing justification to substantiate and overcome the harm which would arise has not been submitted to accompany the application.

"The public benefits associated with the proposal would not outweigh the harm which has been identified to the designated heritage asset."