Campaigning residents are celebrating after an appeal to build a huge solar park near their village was thrown out by a planning inspector.

The controversial proposal by developers Sunsave 8 was for a 37-acre site – the size of more than 20 football pitches and bigger than the Ashford Designer Outlet – on land in Dowle Street, in Pluckley.

The plan was originally refused by Ashford Borough Council’s planning committee in February 2014.

But despite villagers’ protests, the developers appealed that decision but it has now finally been dismissed by the inspector on the grounds there would be “harm to the character and appearance of the area”.

Paul Smith, a member of Pluckley Solar Group (PSG), said everyone is “relieved” that their hard work has paid off, adding: “We were fortunate in having a good group with a lot of expertise, it was about not getting emotional and putting together a reasonable, sensible argument.

“The inspector was quite complimentary about the comments made by the group in the report and picked up on many of our points.

“Obviously we are very pleased.

“It went on and on, it has been two years in total, which is quite a long time for something like that.

“We were confident we had done everything we could to make a good case.

“I think it shows that localism is working.

“There was never any shouting with banners, it was just good arguments as to why it should not be there.

“We are not opposed to solar parks but we are opposed to them being on productive farming sites.

“I do think this has set some sort of precedent.”

ABC said it was pleased the planning inspector agreed with its decision.

Sunsave 8 were unavailable for comment.