CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a solar farm in Newport were given the green light despite almost 100 objections.

The city council’s Planning committee granted permission for 10,560 solar photovoltaic energy panels to built on a 5.6 hectare field at Hazel Farm, Langstone, at a meeting on Friday.

But applicant Silicon Vineyard Limited will have to wait to see if the Welsh Government has any objections, after those against the plans asked for ministers to make the decision instead.

If it is not called in for consideration by ministers, the council’s approval of the plans still stands.

Speaking at the meeting, Langstone resident Lucy Alison urged councillors to refuse the development on the grounds of visual impact and increased traffic.

She said the officer’s recommendations were “flawed” and said the development was unsuitable as it would be sited within three metres of listed buildings, a 12th Century castle and an ancient monument - adding it would be better suited to an industrial or brown field site.

The committee heard revenue gained from ten percent of the panels will be pledged to Langstone Community Council.

Councillor Malcolm Linton said he felt the site was the wrong place for such a development and put forward a motion to refuse the plans, which was defeated, and the plans were passed on a second vote.

The panels, which will be around 1.65 metres high by 0.99 metres wide, will be fixed on to steel frames standing 3.3 metres high and will produce enough energy to power more than 500 homes.

A second proposal submitted by Bristol-based Aspire Planning Consultancy for 9,040 solar energy panels on a 4.5 hectare site at Clearwell Farm, Michaelstone-y-Fedw was also passed.

The solar farm, which will be split over two fields, could provide energy for up to 700 homes a year.