Thurrock Council voted tonight to give the green light to a large solar farm in Stanford-le-Hope.

The 50-row farm on Petroplus at the Manorway will create enough electricity for 2,150 homes to export to the national grid.

Last month, the council deferred their decision after concerns were raised about wildlife on the site.

The decision at tonight’s council planning meeting came after the developer submitted more ecological reports, as requested at the last meeting.

Developers Origin Power Services Ltd. said they would protect breeding birds, great crested newts, invertebrates and lizards, partly by creating hibernacula and woodpile refuges around the site.

They also stated much of the natural grassland at the scrub site would be lost in the next five to ten years anyway, due to natural changes.

Councillor Kevin Wheeler again raised concerns about the loss of one of Thurrock’s bit of ‘wildernesses.’ He said: “Why don't we just leave a little wild place for the wildlife, let it get on with its own business?”

But other councillors said they would prefer the land to be covered in solar farms rather than oil tanks.

Councillor Steve Liddiard said he felt much more comfortable now wildlife was being protected, so “reluctantly”, he was in favour.

The ground-mounted solar photovoltaic array will be spread over 8.8 hectares.