Antony Gormley.
The renowned artist behind Britain’s iconic Angel of the North sculpture has condemns plans for a vast solar farm near his £3m home as “cruel and destructive”.
Sir Antony Gormley is fighting plans for one of the country’s biggest solar developments which would cover 2,800 acres in Norfolk.
The 75-year-old artist has lodged an objection to the huge Droves renewable energy scheme and has registered to speak at hearings about the project.
In a written objection, he said: “The idea of putting one of the largest solar arrays in the country here feels cruel and destructive beyond belief.
“It is hard for us to imagine somewhere less suitable for this massive industrial development – including the huge battery storage complex – than here.”
The controversial project forms part of the Government’s push to reach net zero by dramatically expanding renewable energy across the UK.
But Sir Antony’s intervention risks accusations of hypocrisy.
The artist has previously donated to Labour and the Green party and has been a high profile voice warning of the need to take action against climate change.
Sir Antony has previously spoken of his concerns about the environment and desire to minimise his own carbon footprint.
His artwork has also explored the issue, including a snowman ice sculpture he carved in the Arctic as part of a project with nine other artists to raise awareness of climate change.
He was also among artists urging London’s National Portrait Gallery to end its sponsorship with oil company BP, accusing the company of “furthering the climate crisis”.
In his letter, he said: “We are passionate supporters of the necessary transition that our society must urgently make from fossil fuels to green energy sources.
“We recognise the climate emergency and have made many steps in our own lives to reduce our carbon footprint.
“We also believe that solar is an integral part of the blend of sustainable energy sources that the UK will need to develop in the coming years, but we cannot be convinced that this proposal represents anything but a profit grab at the cost of a special and much-loved area of farmland, fields, woods and lanes.”
Sir Antony, knighted for services to art in 2014, said farmland that could be used to produce food should not be lost so organisations could “profit from land”.
He bought High House, an 18th century Palladian-style villa in West Acre near Swaffham, with his wife in 2010.
It is used as a studio by the couple and other artists, who form part of a wider community described as Norfolk’s ‘Artocracy’.
The couple split their time between West Acre and a home in a converted gas holder in London.
He is among more than 60 people and organisations who have registered to speak during open hearings about the Droves proposals.
Breckland District Council and Norfolk County Council have also opposed the plans.
George Freeman, Conservative MP for Mid Norfolk and his party colleague James Wild, MP for North West Norfolk, said it was “unsustainable development conflicting with national policy”.
However, 13 of the 64 representations are from people supporting the scheme, who have submitted identical statements backing the application from developer Island Green Power.
The developer said the scheme will generate up to 500 megawatts of electricity, enough to power around 115,000 homes a year.
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