Planning chiefs have rejected an application to build a solar farm on a greenfield site the size of almost 14 football pitches.

Members of the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) heard that the 25-acre scheme at Thornlands Farm in Fletchwood Road, Netley Marsh, went against policies aimed at protecting the area.

Reading-based Enviromena Project Management had sought consent to install 12,132 panels and two transformer stations on land between Netley Marsh and Ashurst Bridge.

Its application said the proposed development could produce enough clean energy to power about 2,000 homes.

The eco-friendly scheme, which was backed by Netley Marsh Parish Council, sparked only four objections.

But an NPA spokesperson said: "National parks have the highest level of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty.

"National planning policy and associated guidance makes it clear that the general need for renewable or low carbon energy does not automatically override environmental protections."

The spokesperson said permission for major development in national parks should be granted only in exceptional circumstances.

They added: "As well as being contrary to national guidance, the scheme did not comply with national park planning policies which support small scale schemes to provide renewable energy for local households, business, and community facilities."

The spokesperson said the applicant had not demonstrated that the solar farm needed to be within the New Forest National Park.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Enviromena accused the NPA of "hypocrisy" after it emerged the scheme was likely to be rejected.

Speaking earlier this month Mark Harding, Enviromena's European development director, 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.

"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."

Enviromena could decide to lodge an appeal against the NPA's decision to reject the application.