'Glint and Glare' risk to pilots blocks solar farm near Andover

Novus Renewable Services had applied to build the 22 mega-watt solar farm on a site beside the A303 at a farm at Quarley.

It would produce power for more than 5000 homes or 10% of the homes in Test Valley.

The civil aviation authority's airfield advisory team told Test Valley planners the solar farm would pose an unacceptable risk to operations at Thruxton airfield due to the potential for glint and glare distracting pilots.

Thruxton's operators said the airfield was mainly used for pilot training and the solar farm presented an unacceptable impact on them.

Hampshire air ambulance which operates from teh airfield said they didn't have objection and the solar farm received near 150 letters of support.

But council planning officials said the farm would have an unacceptable impact on the safe operation of Thruxton and councillors agreed with them.

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