Lightrock Power has voiced disappointment after planning permission for its 50MW Scruton solar farm in the north of England was turned down.
The North Yorkshire project was rejected by Hambleton District Council last week despite a recommendation by planning officers to approve the scheme.
The developer’s co-founder, Chris Sowerbutts, said: “It is of course disappointing that members did not agree with their planning officer’s weighing of the planning balance.
“This project would have created solar energy in the right way, combining energy security with agricultural output.
He added: “Lightrock was created with the determination to develop solar energy at the same time as implementing all the gains to ecology, environment, and education that projects such as this one would have created.
“We have worked with the local community and organisations such as the RSPB to help protect local wildlife whilst significantly benefitting the environment as well as the RAF to ensure that our proposals would have minimal impact on their work.”