Communities join forces to sound alarm over controversial 2,800-acre solar farm plan |
Representatives from Norfolk parish councils affected by proposals for the Droves Solar Farm took part in a meeting convened by three MPs.
Norfolk MPs James Wild and George Freeman convened the meeting about solar farm plans (Image: Office of James Wild)
Island Green Power has said the scheme, which includes a battery energy storage system, will generate up to 500 megawatts of electricity, enough to power around 115,000 homes a year.
Proposals for the Droves Solar Farm (Image: Island Green Power)
But the project, on 2,800 acres of land between Castle Acre and Swaffham has attracted criticism.
Castle Acre Parish Council, Holme Hale Parish Council and Sporle with Palgrave Parish Council are worried about the loss of agricultural land and pressure on rural roads during construction.
Castle Acre (Image: Mike Page)
North West Norfolk MP James Wild and Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman MP, along with representatives from the office of South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy, last week brought together parish councils at Holme Hale Village Hall.
Joining forces as the Central Norfolk Solar Action Alliance, they discussed the approach to take ahead of the start of a process, beginning next month, which will see an independent planning inspector consider the application.
Conservative MP Mr Wild said it had been "valuable" to bring so many representatives together to co-ordinate a response to the proposals.
He said: "Renewable energy has a role to play, but not at the expense of productive farmland, our cultural heritage, or the rural communities who have not been offered meaningful compensation in return."
The Droves is one of a number of huge solar farm schemes proposed in Norfolk, along with High Grove, near Swaffham and Dereham and East Pye, near Long Stratton.
Conservative Mr Freeman said it was "madness", adding: "The combined impact of all these solar installations in Norfolk will change the countryside forever."
The applications are being treated as nationally significant infrastructure projects - seen as crucial to the government's net zero drive and the reduction of dependency on fossil fuels.
That means they do not go through the usual planning process. Instead, planning inspectors will consider evidence and representations at a series of hearings.
Energy secretary Ed Miliband (Image: PA)
They will make a recommendation to energy secretary Ed Miliband, who makes the final decisions.