Plans for a 50-acre solar farm in South East Cornwall are under consideration by Cornwall planners.

St Anthony 101 PV Park Ltd has applied for permission to erect a solar park on the Antony Estate to the north of Freathy Farm, near Millbrook.

The Bristol-based agent for the estate, the Landmark Practice, says the landowner's objective is to enhance the estate's green credentials by providing renewable energy, reducing its carbon footprint, securing enough income to contribute towards the estate's running costs, as well as improvement works and repairs.

An environmental impact assessment had been undertaken by the developers and a public exhibition was held in May last year at St John Village Hall, during which issues raised included: the visual impact of the scheme and impact on views from Freathy, Tregantle Fort and Rame Head; and the potential for glare from the solar panels.

St John and Antony Parish Councils were also consulted and indicated they were preparing a Neighbourhood Development Plan for the Rame Peninsula to include the reinstatement of historic footpaths. The councils had identified one such route on the site adjacent to the watercourse running through it. The councils explained that they would like a permissive path to be provided through the site because it would enhance the connectivity of the villages on the peninsula. The applicant confirmed that it might be possible to provide this.

But objections to the application have been lodged by a number of people who suggest that any negative visual impact will have a corresponding negative effect on tourism and related business income.