Proposals for a controversial solar farm on land near Ipswich have been thrown into confusion after planners failed to agree on a common position.

The proposed Enso Energy solar farm would have been set up on farm land split between the villages of Bramford and Flowton.

The fields are split between Babergh council and Mid Suffolk council - and planners from both authorities needed to agree before the proposal could go ahead.

Officers had recommended approval, and Babergh planners backed the scheme - but Mid Suffolk's planning committee voted against.

Because of the nature of the plans - with power storage and ancillary work - the project cannot go ahead in only one of the districts.

A Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council spokesman said: “The plans for a renewable energy generating station were heard by both Babergh and Mid Suffolk planning committees as one application that crosses the district boundaries.

“Following Mid Suffolk’s committee’s refusal of the application, the applicant may choose to appeal against this decision.

"They could also appeal against the conditions Babergh’s committee agreed when they granted planning permission.

“No work can begin on the development until planning permission across the whole site has been granted.”

The application has sparked much local opposition to the proposal, and last week Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Dr Dan Poulter added his voice to concerns.

CareSuffolk is a local opposition group who has also expressed concerns about the proposed solar panels on fields that are seen as productive arable land.

Enso Energy has been contacted - and have pointed out that solar farms are necessary if the UK is to acheive its net zero emission aims.

East Anglian Daily Times: Sheep can graze under some solar panels.Sheep can graze under some solar panels. (Image: Archant)

In other places solar farms are also home to sheep that can graze the grass beneath the panels.