PLANS to create a 3,000-panel solar park on the outskirts of Oswestry are set to be rejected next week.

Positech Energy Limited has re-applied for permission to construct the park on agricultural land at Cefn-Y-Maes Farm in Rhydycroesau.

However, a report by officers that will go before Shropshire Council's North Planning Committee on Tuesday (October 11) recommends that the scheme is rejected due to the harm it would cause to the setting of the nearby Offa's Dyke.

Case officer Mark Perry said: "Clear and convincing justification to substantiate and overcome the harm which would arise has not been submitted to accompany the application.

"The public benefits associated with the proposal would not outweigh the harm which has been identified to the designated heritage asset."

A previous application for 3,240 solar panels was refused for the same reason.

As well as the reduction in panels, the applicants had also altered the angles of the panels and the number of panel rows.

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The details of the current proposal include 3,024 solar panels, plus associated equipment, a 2m high deer fence, permanent access road, CCTV cameras and a weather station.

Although they have received the backing of Oswestry Rural Parish Council, on the condition that the land is restored to its original condition once the life of the panels expires, it has received strong objections from Historic England, Archaeology Wales and members of the public.

A statement on behalf of Historic England said: "Historic England assess that the introduction of a solar farm into the rural setting of the monument would impact on the ability to understand and appreciate how it interacts with its environment and functioned within its wider social and economic landscape.

"This would result in harm to the significance that the monument derives from its setting.

"Historic England therefore objects to the formation of a solar park in this location."

Public concerns included the impact Offa's Dyke and lack of mitigation, however others welcomed the plans saying it would only occupy a small area of the farm and welcomed the need for renewable energy.

The committee meeting takes place on Tuesday at 2pm in Shirehall, Shrewsbury.