Fairytale cottage that inspired Goldilocks and the Three Bears under threat amid plans for ‘horrendous’ 100,000-panel solar farm

The charming thatched-roof country house that inspired Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

But now the picturesque grounds surrounding the 18th-century house will be covered with 100,000 solar panels.

Situated on the edge of the Black Forest, Burton Cottage was once the home of poet Robert Southey, and it is thought that he wrote the first version of the tale, published in 1837, while living there.

Residents of Burton village now say ‘horrific’ plans to build a huge solar farm near the lodge date back to World War II. He says it will transform the picture postcard views of the grade-listed property into an industrial eyesore.

Burton resident Martin Bird said: ‘There is already a large solar farm in Burton, now we have another plan for more solar panels.

‘The whole region is moving away from agricultural use and farm production. The government seems determined to transfer agricultural lands to alternative energy production.’

Another villager, Tom Borrows, said: ‘Almost all residents of Burton village enjoy these rural areas and installing more solar panels is unacceptable. ‘This is valuable land for many species of animals, insects and birds and the installation of this monstrous solar ‘farm’ will destroy their habitat.’

Conservation bodies are also concerned about the impact the installation will have on the nearby estate, Burton Hall.

The picturesque grounds surrounding the 18th-century house (circled) will be covered with 100,000 solar panels

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council’s heritage officer, Peter Walters, said: ‘Phase II of the plan is a must. He said ‘grade-listed Burton Hall will transform the character of the open farmland it overlooks’.

He believes this will negatively affect the importance of the manor.

Historic England public body also has ‘concerns about the impact of the proposed solar farm on Burton Hall and Burton Conservation Area’.

Other objectors have questioned whether it is wise to lose a productive, arable farm that provides the nation with food security to the ‘urban sprawl’ of renewable energy.

Gerald Rigler, of Dorset CPRE, also known as the Rural Charity, said it was ‘vital that our high quality farmland remains available for food production’.

He said the installation of the solar panel farm would also have a significant impact on the ‘rich landscape enjoyed by cyclists, horse riders, walkers and tourists along rural roads’. The planning application was submitted by landowner Meyrick Estate.

Planning agent Nicholas Leaney said there was an ‘urgent need’ for a solar farm in line with national policy.

He said the facility would produce up to 53 gigawatt hours (GWh) of energy per year, enough to power 15,796 homes in the local area. Mr Leaney claimed the planned solar farm ‘will not have a significant adverse impact on the local landscape or historic environment’.

Southey, the Bristol-born English Romantic poet who was appointed Poet Laureate in 1813, lived at Burton Cottage between 1799 and 1805.

Residents of Burton village say ‘terrifying’ plans to build a huge solar farm near the lodge date back to World War II. It says it will transform the picture postcard views of the grade-listed property into an industrial eyesore

He added that listed properties such as Burton Cottage and Burton Hall were already ‘appropriately protected and set back from the site’.

Southey, the Bristol-born English Romantic poet who was appointed Poet Laureate in 1813, lived at Burton Cottage between 1799 and 1805.

Although Goldilocks was not published until the 1830s, Southey wrote the first version of the story while living on this quaint estate.

The original name of the fairy tale was The Tale of the Three Bears.