Plans to build one of the largest solar farms in Kent have been refused after more than 120 objections were lodged.

Renewable energy firm RES said it was “disappointed” its scheme to put thousands of panels on farmland between Horton Kirby and Fawkham was not considered acceptable.

Its bid, which was submitted to Sevenoaks council at the end of last year, looked to construct and operate a solar farm with storage units, CCTV and other supporting infrastructure.

The project, known as Chimmens Solar Farm, would have covered about 245 acres and generated up to 49.9MW of clean, low-cost, renewable electricity - enough to power 22,500 homes.

Permission was being sought for a temporary period of 40 years.

However, planning officers decided to reject the plan for the fields at Speedgate Farm, between Mussenden Lane and the M20, this week.

Their report stated it would be an inappropriate development of the Green Belt and although the provision of renewable energy development can be considered as a very special circumstance, officers decided this did not outweigh the harm.

It also said the solar farm, which would have had more than 100,000 panels, would cause the loss of best and most versatile agricultural land when there are lower-garde land available elsewhere.

In their submitted documentation, RES acknowledged that the solar farm would be on green belt land but said due to the 40-year operatinal life it would not be a “permanent loss”.

The statement also said that agricultural use will be kept in the long term as the development is temporary and reversible.

Although council officers higlighted the benefits of the proposal such as generating renewable engery, job created and biodiveristy net gain, they were not enough.

They concluded: “The harms from the proposed development are also afforded substantial weight and the combined effects are not considered to be clearly outweighed by the benefits.”

More than 120 objections were submitted and a petition with around 700 signatures was also sent to the local authority.

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Those against the plans claimed it would see a loss of agricultural land, would impact on badgers and other wildlife and on the nearby ancient woodland and was an inappropriate development of the green belt.

Despite this, three letters of support were received which praised the scheme for its provision of clean energy and the need to transition to renewable electricity.

Following the decision, development project manager at RES, Pauric McCloskey, said: “We would like to thank the local community for the constructive feedback they gave us during the development of Chimmens Solar Farm.

“RES put their feedback into action and increased buffers from local properties, added new native woodland screening and changed the locations of other infrastructure on-site.

“This collaborative design process resulted in a better proposal, which had the ability to deliver a range of local benefits, including a community fund to support local projects and a significant Biodiversity Net Gain.

“We are disappointed to receive the decision from Sevenoaks District Council, especially without the project being considered by locally-elected representatives at a planning committee.

“We will now take time to carefully review the details of the decision that has been made.”