Council attempts to guide mega solar farm plans

A council has put together a new guide for developers of mega solar farms amid fears the area is being "disproportionately targeted".

South Norfolk Council's document will inform its response to proposals in the hope of "minimising adverse effects" on the landscape.

The area has been earmarked for several large projects, including what could be the biggest solar farm in the UK.

Conservative council leader Daniel Elmer said the district had become a "nexus" of energy infrastructure applications due to its flat landscape and location along a grid connection to London.

"We don't want to be unreasonable, but we do want to make sure every proposal that comes forward works for the residents of South Norfolk as well as everyone else," he added.

Decisions on large projects will be made by the government due to their size, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

Nevertheless, the authority is seeking to guide energy-related developments.

Locally, proposals include National Grid's pylon network from Norwich to Tilbury, Essex, running through villages such as Flordon and Winfarthing, as well as four huge solar farms.

These are the East Pye project, set to span 2,700 acres (1,090 ha) across villages including Hempnall, Great Moulton and Saxlingham; an unnamed 5,000-acre (2,020 ha) project in Gissing; an unnamed 2,500-acre (1,010 ha) project near Long Stratton, and the Tasway Energy Park earmarked for 3,600 acres (1,460 ha).

But plans for a huge battery storage facility across farmland in Rushall, near Diss, have just been "paused" by developers after opposition.

South Norfolk Council's supplementary planning document will help identify areas most at risk of being impacted by renewable energy schemes and find other suitable sites.

Suzanne Wateridge, Green councillor for Bunwell, said: "The village is starting to look completely encircled – the news about Tasway was the final straw for many residents.

"I wholeheartedly support renewable energy projects, but every county across the country should be hosting its fair share.

"There is no doubt that South Norfolk is being disproportionately targeted by energy companies."

South Norfolk Labour MP Ben Goldsborough recently faced criticism for opposing the Tasway Energy Park, despite having endorsed the East Pye project, barely a mile away.

He said he believed his constituency needed to "play its role" in the transition to green energy.

"But when we keep getting as many applications as this, we have to say, enough is enough," he said.

Norfolk could become the biggest solar energy producer in the country if the schemes all go ahead.

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