A clean energy company has hit out at the New Forest National Park Authority, claiming the body is “hypocritical”.

Enviromena is proposing a 25-acre solar project at Thornlands Farm in Netley Marsh – but the project looks set to be refused.

The company says the authority says it is committed to tackling climate change but will potentially refuse plans for the solar farm.

If built, the proposed 6MW solar farm could produce enough clean energy to power approximately 2,000 homes.

It would connect into an existing electricity pylon within the site boundary.

The project by Reading-based Enviromena also outlines the opportunity for the landowner to diversify and ensure that agricultural land is being used sustainably.

Despite the pushback from the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA), the project has support from residents, with Netley Marsh Parish Council indicating their full support for the project in March.

They also submitted comments to the NPA stating that “renewable energy is vital”.

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Mark Harding, European development director of Enviromena, said: “There is now an opportunity to support real change in the forest, and a renewables project that could be of huge benefit locally.

“So far, our application has been received very negatively by the NPA and there has been little direction or willingness to help us.

"To be honest, the whole process has been extremely difficult, and smacks of hypocrisy given the National Park’s net zero targets.

“This is despite backing from Netley Marsh Parish Council, whose members unanimously agreed to support the application as they could see the case for clean energy located on a site very well screened from public view.

“This show of support from the residents in the area demonstrates that the locals do not have any objection to living near the proposed site.”

According to Mark, the carbon footprint of the residents of the New Forest National Park is estimated to be 28 per cent higher than the UK average each year.

“The solar farm that we’re proposing would go some way to help offset these carbon emissions," he said.

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By the autumn of 2023 more than 300 councils and organisations declared a climate emergency with authorities scrambling to develop plans and strategies, stressing the urgency in tackling this quickly escalating problem.

The New Forest National Park Authority was among them, stating the organisation’s belief in urgent action.

Mark said: “The National Park Authority has made a commitment to become a net zero organisation by 2030 but without renewable projects like this, it’s hard to see how they will meet that target.”

The committee report from the NPA recommends the plans to be refused.

A decision on the application will be made at next week’s New Forest National Park Authority’s planning committee meeting.