Find, save and share Public Notices that affect you in the area.
The Public Notice Portal carries statutory public notices published in local newspapers and is the fastest and most effective way of finding out what is happening in YOUR neighbourhood.
A bid to build a 124-acre solar farm in the Norfolk countryside has been given the green light following a narrow vote.
Councillors at Broadland Council have agreed to grant permission for developers to build the farm off Heydon Road in Heydon, after a vote saw six in favour and four against.
The plans, which were submitted by Grupotec Solar UK, will see the land transformed with enough panels to power around 7,500 homes in the area a year for around 40 years.
It had sparked numerous objections from those living nearby, and from Norfolk County councillor Greg Peck who feared solar parks on arable land is a “massive threat to our future food supply”.
But the councillors on the planning committee decided the benefits of producing renewable energy outweighed the harm of the temporary loss of agricultural land, even if it is deemed as “best and most versatile”.
In the planning committee meeting, Rhona Bulwer-Long – who is responsible for the Heydon estate and the land for the solar farm – said approval of the farm will help fund a new reservoir.
This in turn would enable them to grow onions and potatoes across the farm, she argued, and said the local farmer who will graze his sheep on the solar farm will be able to increase his flock.
“The net result will be more food for human consumption going to the supply chains from Heydon, not less,” she added.
However, councillor Jo Copplestone objected to the application and raised concerns that “the whole appearance of the area will be changed”.
But while vice chairwoman Eleanor Laming recognised that it will change the appearance of the land, she argued: “It is beneficial for the district and the country – the benefits of the proposal do outweigh the harms.”
Chairwoman Caroline Karimi-Ghovanlou agreed and said that “this is one of the better applications” and argued that it is “very difficult to find low quality land in Norfolk” in response to fears about the temporary loss of arable land.
The park would be connected to the Salle substation nearby, and it has been estimated that it will power around 7,500 homes and save approximately 13,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.
This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation’s Editors’ Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here
© 2001-2026. The Eastern Daily Press is owned and operated by Newsquest Media Group Ltd, an audited local newspaper network.
Visit newsquest.co.uk to view our policies, terms and legal agreements.
The Echo Building, 18 Albert Road, Bournemouth, England BH1 1BZ. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637
Data returned from the Piano ‘meterActive/meterExpired’ callback event.
As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles.
Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services.
These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience – the local community.
It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times.
