Estate where Prince Charles and Diana spent honeymoon to become huge solar farm

A solar farm the size of more than 80 football pitches will be built on a historic estate where Prince Charles and Princess Diana spent their honeymoon.

The decision marks the end of a lengthy planning battle over the plans for the farm on the Broadlands Estate near Romsey, Hampshire, after they were initially rejected by planning chiefs.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip spent their honeymoon at the 86-acre manor in November 1947. The newly married Prince and Princess of Wales also enjoyed the first three days of their honeymoon at Broadlands in 1981, travelling to the estate by train from London Waterloo.

But the country house, which is owned by Lord and Lady Brabourne, will be the new home to 57,000 solar panels. Energy company Solarcentury originally came forward with the bid to build the panels - enough to power more than 4,400 homes - on the site last year.

The plans proved controversial, with some residents branding them an "eyesore" and the council's planning officers recommending refusal on impact grounds.

However, 47 letters supporting the bid were received by the council, with only one letter of opposition.

Councillors on the Southern Area Planning Committee went against officers' recommendations to approve the plans last year, but the council's planning control committee then rejected it.

However, Solarcentury appealed the decision, with a public inquiry hearing from both sides in July.

Some residents reiterated their opposition to the plans, voicing concerns about its visual impact, the impact of vehicle movements and that it would mean less land was available for agricultural use.

The firm said native seeds would be sown at the site to protect the environment.

Broadlands Estate's manager Richard Jordon Barker had previously said the proposal was "vital" to the estate and would not create traffic or noise issues.

The final decision lay in the hands of planning inspector Sukie Tamplin. She said that the farm would create a "considerable" amount of energy that would be equivalent to proving power for all of the homes in Romsey, which has a population of 18,000.

She added: "In terms of the landscape, I have found that there would be some harm, but that this would reduce over time as the landscaping and biodiversity measures mature."

Reaction to the decision has been mixed, with borough councillor Nigel Anderdon saying: "I felt it was the right thing in the wrong place, so I've got mixed feelings.

"I think it would have better if it was further away from the road and further into the estate. We need these farms, but I want to put them where they don't show up."

It marks the end of a second lengthy planning battle over proposals for the estate, which was the former home of Lord Mountbatten.

Residents had previously also opposed proposals for a Tesco store at the site and they were later axed by the supermarket giant.