A solar plant in Prime Minister David Cameron’s constituency has bagged planning approval.

Energy firm Solarcentury announced the consent from local councillors to build a 13.4 MWp solar park near Eynsham, Oxfordshire.

The solar park will generate enough clean solar electricity to power the equivalent of around 4,000 homes once connected to the grid.

Frans van den Heuvel, CEO at Solarcentury said: “Our day to day experience at Eynsham and elsewhere is a million miles away from the unhelpful stereotyping of solar parks presented by some MPs and parts of the media.”

Ministers have been keen to emphasise large solar parks must not be “inappropriately ” located, with Greg Barker warning this risked a backlash in popularity for solar.

Mr van den Heuval said: “On the contrary, the reality is if you get the site, mitigation and biodiversity right, local people and their representatives will welcome such developments.”

Real estate firm Savills, a planning partner in the project, said good site selection is “critical and challenging”.

David Grindley of Savills Energy said: “The park needs to be sited near a suitable grid connection, it can’t be too disruptive during construction, and it has to be well screened once built.”