A solar farm scheme near Pembroke Dock, which would provide power for nearly 3,300 homes, has been put on hold once again.

The proposed scheme at Lower Nash Farm, near Pembroke Dock would be spread over three fields, amounting to approximately 14 hectares with some 25,000 PV panels on site, some 120 metres from the national park.

The scheme was previously deferred from the February meeting so members could visit the site after concerns were raised about the loss of the most valuable agricultural land. Local member Cllr Tessa Hodgson, as a public speaker, successfully called for the site visit, asking: “Does the permanent loss of prime agricultural land outweigh the benefit of renewable energy?”

Four objections to the scheme were received, with local community council Cosheston raising concerns about the use of Best and Most Versatile (BMV) land and Welsh Government Soil Policy & Agricultural Land Use Planning Unit saying the return to agriculture as BMV agricultural land is “seldom practicable”.

At the February meeting, when questioned about the use of the BMV land by committee chair Cllr Simon Hancock, agent Charlotte Peacock said the farmer landowner would receive a guaranteed income which would be more reliable than crop values, adding: “The greatest threat to future security is climate change, the single biggest threat to our output of crops.”

In an application listed at Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee meeting of March 18, members were again recommended to approve a scheme by Wessex Solar Energy (WSE Pembrokeshire Ltd) for a 9.99MW solar farm and associated works .

However, at the start of the meeting, members were told the scheme had been temporarily withdrawn due to an issue with the publicity of an environmental statement accompanying the application; the proposal is expected to now be considered at the April meeting.