PARISH councillors in Oake have backed plans to extend the operating life of a huge solar farm until 2054.

The 26-acre complex at Rendy Farm, situated between the villages of Oake and Nynehead, currently has planning permission which will expire in 2039.

Now, owner Newton Solar Energy Ltd, of London, has asked the district council for an extra 15 years, citing climate change and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine among the reasons the UK needed to enhance energy self-sufficiency.

The company said it wanted to install more efficient solar panels which could generate extra electricity but they were expensive and more time would be needed to allow the investment costs to be recovered.

Parish clerk David Gliddon said his councillors had unanimously agreed to support the proposal to extend the operational life of the solar farm.

Mr Gliddon said councillors also felt the community financial benefits from the development over the prolonged period of time would be good for the residents of Oake.

The parish councillors also agreed with comments from the police that enhanced security measures for the site should be considered.

Nynehead parish clerk Judy Jones said her councillors did not have any comments to make on the planning application.

The 3.76MWp solar farm has 16,020 ground-based racking systems with mounted photovoltaic panels which can produce enough electricity to power more than 3,500 homes per year.

The site has to be restored to its previous agricultural state once the development stops generating power.

District council planning officer Karen Wray is due to use delegated powers to decide on the application by July 22.