Billericay residents have claimed Basildon Council is targeting their town’s green belt land after it approved a solar farm to be kept there for a total of 32 years.

The solar farm, which is on a 26.4 hectare site in Outwood Farm Road, Billericay, was first approved in 2014.

The decision caused an uproar amongst council officers and members who said it was inappropriate to build on a green belt site. Under the original planning condition, the solar panel would cease its use 26 years after 2014.

However a planning committee decided on Tuesday that the solar farm should remain in place for a total of 32 years, lasting until 2046.

Jim Devlin, leader of the Billericay Town Council, said the town council objected to the extension fearing it the site would not revert to green belt when expected by residents.

He said: “Building a solar farm on a green belt site is inappropriate in the first place, but to give it another six years is just unfortunate.

“The solar farm is an eye sore. The council is clearly out of sync with the local population and government requirements.

“We strongly opposed the development in 2014, but our views were shut down. They decided our objections didn’t count because we’re not disagreeing on the grounds of the farm being developed.”

Mr Devlin is concerned that this is just another example of Basildon Council taking advantage of the town’s generous green spaces.

He said: “The council is targeting Billericay’s green belt once again to take up the borough’s infrastructure. They see Billericay has lots of spaces so they think we should take up the borough’s developments.

“This goes for the council’s housing plans. If they want to build on our green spaces, the increased amount of traffic and people will burden the town’s infrastructure. It’s unsustainable.”

Mike Andrews, chairman of the Billericay Action Group, said: “It was unfortunate the site was approved for the solar farm. The government has told local authorities to protect green belt sites but clearly it’s not happening.

“It just shows the council is in favour of the developers, not residents.”