Fifth proposal for solar farm in county 'worrying'

Plans for a large solar farm - the fifth to be proposed in Norfolk in recent weeks - have been described as "deeply worrying" by the county council's leader.

The project by Noventum Power could be built near Long Stratton, an area of the county that had already been eyed for the largest solar farm in the UK.

"I see this sudden gold rush to sign up acres of land as a precursor to the expected planning permission for the new pylons, it is a perverse and back-to-front policy," said Kay Mason Billig, a Conservative.

Asked about solar farms during an interview on BBC Radio Norfolk on Friday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the move to renewable energy meant "difficult decisions" had to be made, and communities near major planning schemes should directly benefit, such as from cheaper energy bills.

Solar farms are among the renewable energy schemes affecting Norfolk as the government strives for net zero by the end of the decade.

A planned 114 mile-long (184km) stretch of pylons would run through the Long Stratton area between Norwich and Tilbury, Essex

Due to their size, a decision on all major projects rests with energy secretary Ed Miliband and not local councils.

Ms Mason Billig repeated her claim that Labour was "running roughshod" over local opinion - something which Mr Starmer denied, adding "it was very important for communities to have their say".

Noventum Power's scheme would generate 460 MW but further details are not known at this stage, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The energy company is consulting with landowners before submitting a formal planning application.

The biggest planned solar farm for the region – and the largest in the pipeline in the UK – is in Gissing, near Long Stratton, where 900 megawatts (MW) of power.

The LDRS has speculated that it could cover about 5,000 acres (2,023 hectares).

There are also proposals for East Pye, which would cover 2,700 acres (1,093 hectares). around several villages close to Long Stratton.

Two developments have been proposed further afield, at High Grove, a 4,000-acre (1,619 hectares) scheme near Dereham and Swaffham, and the Droves, spanning 2,800 acres (1,133 hectares) on an adjoining site.

Reacting to the latest scheme, Ms Mason Billig added: "There is no common sense being applied, no thought for the long-term repercussions, no thought for the impact this will have on local people, their wellbeing, the environmental damage, or their losses due to this blight.

"We should not be bounced into an unacceptable and unmitigable situation.

"It must be stopped."

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