A SECOND bid to build a new solar farm in Great Totham has been rejected by councillors.
Lightsource Renewable Energy submitted plans for 39,606 panels on farmland south of Beckingham Road.
Council members decided to reject the proposals on the grounds that "the scale and extent of the proposals will create an unacceptable visual impact upon the acknowledged and highly sensitive landscape".
The farm would have produced enough energy to power 3,198 homes and landowner Fergus Howie has already installed solar panels at Wicks Manor in Tolleshunt Major.
A Maldon District Council spokesman said "The committee were concerned that the material planning considerations raised in the previous refusal of planning permission for a similar scheme on this site had not been met."
The authority refused previous plans for 43,054 panels last December due to the height of the panels.
