A controversial planning application for a solar farm in the greenbelt has been approved.

Kybo Solar Farm Ltd sought permission from Sevenoaks District Council to construct a 12.4-hectare solar facility at Gaywood Farm, on land northwest of Little Browns Railway Bridge at Edenbridge.

The application, which could generate power for 3,700 homes, was approved by the council’s development management committee last Thursday.

The site is on agricultural land within the greenbelt and partly falls within a high-risk flooding zone, but planning officers said the scheme demonstrated the necessary “very special circumstances” to make an exception to normal planning rules.

Euan Hutchison, the planning agent for Kybo Solar Farm, said: “We are delighted to reach this milestone for the solar farm, which will make a major contribution to renewable energy and climate change targets.

“The application has been assessed thoroughly by Sevenoaks planning officers and statutory consultees for almost a year.

“Committee members discussed the scheme in great detail and asked some very good questions, so we were pleased to receive a decisive vote for approval.”

The proposal had divided the community, receiving support from Edenbridge Town Council and 60 local residents, while neighbouring Limpsfield Parish Council and 73 residents objected.

A number of conditions were imposed including one requiring the firm to draw up a construction vehicle delivery schedule to ensure HGVs do not travel there during peak traffic periods and that no two deliveries are made at the same time.

This is to prevent bottlenecks on the surrounding lanes.

Because it represents a departure from the Local Plan, the application will have to be referred to the Secretary of State for approval, but that is expected to be a rubber-stamp exercise.

Kybo said the solar farm could be operating by 2025.

The site is to be known as Gaywood East Solar Farm and will be accessed from Hilders Lane.

Kybo said the solar farm would be deactivated after 40 years.

The council made it a condition that, at that point, all equipment is removed from the site.