Sir Jeremy Wright has criticised the "flawed" decision to give planning permission for a huge solar farm in Honiley.

The town's MP spoke at the planning enquiry currently underway for the Honiley Solar Park, which was originally given planning permission in July last year.

The Conservative MP said Warwick District Council's planning committee's decision could set a precedent for other developments, and said the green belt - where the energy farm is proposed - needs to be protected from "erosion".

While planning permission for developer Enso's 54.6 hectare facility was approved by the council, it has since been 'called in' by the secretary of state, and a four day inquiry is now underway at the Warwickshire Park Hotel in Honiley.

Sir Jeremy spoke against the application on Tuesday (February 20), saying the plans have not shown the "very special" circumstances needed for green belt development.

"This is not just a theoretical concern," he said. 

"I am aware of a number of similar applications for solar farms in my constituency and of one elsewhere in Warwick district where the approval of this application was cited as a precedent for the planning committee also approving that application.

"The straightforward submission that I want to make is that the decision of the planning committee, in this case, was flawed and that it risks substantial erosion of the important principle that the green belt should be protected from inappropriate development in all but the most exceptional circumstances, and therefore that the conclusion of the Secretary of State should be that the application is now refused."

The former attorney general said renewable energy generation does not count as "very special" circumstances - although he did say he wanted to see more of it across the country.

"My own view is that we have not yet exploited sufficiently the potential of roof space, especially industrial roofspace and car park canopies, to provide more space for solar panels, but I accept ground-level solar farms will still be required," he added. 

"However, I would also argue that we protect green belt land for good reason and that it must be possible to provide for the defence of the green belt and the promotion of renewable energy at the same time. 

"That can only be so if every green belt site is not deemed suitable for a solar farm."

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.

The inquiry continues.