Sir Jeremy Wright has criticised the decision to allow the controversial Honiley Solar Park to go ahead following a planning appeal.

Permission for the huge green belt development was granted this week.

Minister of state, Matthew Pennycook, approved the application on behalf of the secretary of state.

Kenilworth's MP had previously spoken out against the development at its planning appeal, saying it threatened the “erosion” of the green belt.

But following the decision to given developer Enso Green Holdings P Limited the go-ahead this week, the Conservative MP said he was "disappointed" by the news.

"It is disappointing that one of the first acts of the newly-arrived Labour planning minister has been to approve the large solar farm proposed for Honiley," Sir Jeremy said in a statement.

"I believe this is a mistake.

"Solar panels are an important part of our renewable power generating capacity, but rooftops and canopies over car parks should be preferred as sites for them rather than agricultural land, especially in the green belt.

"If the desirability of renewable energy is reason enough to develop the green belt, then it is under threat everywhere and the defence it provides to encroachment on the open countryside and to the merging of urban settlements is undermined."

The outline area for the proposed solar farm (image via planning application)

The solar farm will be allowed for 40 years and will take over a piece of land the size of 85 football pitches.

Honiley Solar Park was originally given planning permission in July last year, before being called in for an appeal.

Warwick District Council received 120 objections from the public as well as Beausale, Haseley, Honiley & Wroxall Parish Council and Warwickshire County Council's landscape department, before the original planning application was approved.

“She [secretary of state] considers that the potential harm to the green belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm resulting from the proposal, is clearly outweighed by other considerations, and therefore considers that very special circumstances exist,” the report approving the application said.

It added: “Weighing in favour of the proposal are the renewable energy benefits and biodiversity net gain which each carry substantial weight; enabling recovery in soil carbon and soil health, use of existing grid capacity, and efficient and effective use of land which each carry moderate weight; and reduction of surface water runoff, provision of permissive footpaths, benefits to the rural economy and benefits to landscape elements, which each carry limited weight.”