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Inspectors who hold the fate of one of the huge solar farms planned for Norfolk in their hands will resume public hearings into the scheme next month – and will be visiting the proposed site.
Public hearings over proposals for the Droves Solar Farm, which would see solar panels installed on 2,800 acres of fields between Castle Acre and Swaffham, started in May and will resume in September.
At the hearings, planning inspector Anthony Johnson will continue to hear representations and evidence about Island Green Power’s proposal, which has met strong opposition.
The developers say the scheme, which includes a battery energy storage system to store surplus energy, 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)
They say such solar schemes were a “critical national priority” as the government seeks to hit net zero objectives and improve energy security.
But critics have said it will harm heritage and the environment, while leading to the loss of farmland.
The Ministry of Defence has also objected. Officials say the highly reflective metal materials in arrays could interfere with the precision approach radar for aircraft landing at RAF Marham.
An F-35 Lightning jet at RAF Marham (Image: Ian Burt)
They are also concerned that glare could dazzle pilots and air traffic control staff.
That matter is one which will come under the spotlight again at the new hearings, where the developers will be asked about the measures the MOD wants to see put in place to address their concerns.
Island Green Power will also be asked for an update on its discussions with West Norfolk Council over the borough council’s concerns about noise and to respond to Norfolk County Council’s worries about the impact on roads.
There will also be a hearing to consider the developer’s requirements to compulsory purchase or take temporary possession of land in order to build the solar farm.
The hearings will take place at The Duke’s Head Hotel in King’s Lynn’s Tuesday Market Place on Tuesday, September 8 and Wednesday, September 9.
The day after the hearings – on Thursday, September 10 – the inspectors will take part in an accompanied visit of the site.
The examination is due to run until November.
The Droves application is being treated as a nationally significant infrastructure project, which means it does not go through the usual planning process.
Miatta Fahnbulleh (Image: Roger Harris / UK Parliament)
The planning inspector will instead consider the application and then make a recommendation to energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, who has the final say on whether it goes ahead.
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