These eye-in-the-sky photographs show progress on a major solar farm which is being built in the Norfolk countryside.
The images, captured by aerial photographer Mike Page, show the solar panels which are being constructed at the Bloy’s Grove solar farm.
EDF Renewable is building the 49.9MW solar farm on a 200-acre site off Brick Kiln Lane, between Mulbarton, Newton Flotman and Swainsthorpe.
South Norfolk Council’s planning committee approved the plans in June 2022, amid opposition.
At that stage, concerns were raised about the loss of agricultural land and the impact of construction traffic.
But, despite the opposition, the committee granted permission for the solar farm by five votes to three.
Network Rail has struck a deal with the energy firm for electricity generated at the solar farm, which is close to the Norwich to London railway line, to be used to power its stations, offices and depots across the country.
The solar farm is one of a string of such schemes which have either been agreed or proposed on fields across Norfolk.
Developers say that the projects will reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels, power tens of thousands of homes and help to meet government net zero targets.
But critics are concerned about the loss of farmland, along with the visual and environmental impact on the countryside.
The biggest schemes, such as the 4,000-acre High Grove solar farm stretching from Dereham to Castle Acre, the Droves Solar Farm, between Castle Acre and Swaffham and the 2,718-acre East Pye Solar Farm in south Norfolk, are considered to be Nationally Significant Infrastructure projects.
That means a planning inspector – rather than elected councillors on local councils – will consider the applications.
They will then make recommendations on whether or not the schemes should be given the go-ahead to energy secretary Ed Miliband, with whom the final decisions will rest.
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