Wildlife diversity is likely to be improved with the development of a site between Owermoigne and Winfrith for a solar farm.

Among the species which may be persuaded to settle is the White Stork, once common in the country, but now rare.

Dorset Council’s strategic planning committee unanimously approved the proposals for a 30MegaWatt solar farm at Galton Manor Farm, covering almost 20 hectares and capable of producing enough power for 10,400 homes.

Another site, at nearby North Fossil Farm, already has planning approval for a 40MW scheme with smaller sites nearby also lined up for solar panels.

Monday’s planning meeting heard that new wetland areas to the north of the site near Tadnoll Mill Farm, alongside the Tadnoll Brook and Galton Heath, would be created as part of the development.

Payments of £10,400 a year over the 40-years the site is expected to be in use will be put aside as part of the planning consent to pay for a Landscape Enhancement Fund which the developers say will strengthen the character of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Planning officers told the committee that the claims of wildlife improvement were backed by studies into the proposals.

Also backing the scheme is nearby parish councils and ward councillor, Nick Ireland.

He told the committee that wherever they were proposed there would always be someone who objected to solar panels, but they were now more necessary than ever with rising fuel costs.

“In the scheme of things solar farms are just ephemeral blips on the landscape…they’re essential, temporary and they don’t damage the land. Once they are taken away you wouldn’t know they have been there…we need clean electricity and we need lots of it,” he said.

Winfrith Newburgh resident Fiona Bowles, who has land next to the development, said she welcomed the proposals for green energy generation which, she said, would also produce a biodiversity gain including supporting wetland species.

She said having more man-made structures alongside the paths and bridleways she uses would not detract from her enjoyment – with the prospect of seeing a stork likely to enhance her pleasure from being there.

Hugo House from the development company said there had been considerable support locally for the proposals once it was known what the benefits would be, with the new measures complimenting the farm efforts, already started, to re-wild the land.

He said the saving in carbon alone would amount to 6,200 tonnes a year, compared to generating the same amount of power using fossil fuels.

The Dorset AoNB team had objected to the plans because of what it sees as the harm to the landscape while Dorset Ramblers warned of potential safety conflicts for pedestrians using a footpath in the area.

Consultants acting for the developers say the project would bring “extensive habitat enhancement and conservation” with the creation of new hedges to be used as ‘wildlife corridors’ together with the planting of woodland at strategic points.