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Hearings deciding the future of one of the country’s biggest solar farms, which could be built across Norfolk farmland, will begin today.
Inspector David Cliff will begin six months of hearings for the East Pye Solar Farm before he makes a recommendation to energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh.
The project is planned across 2,718 acres of south Norfolk countryside, spanning from Great Moulton in the west to Woodton in the east.
A map of the East Pye solar farm (Image: East Pye)
Much of the scheme will be centred around the A140 – including Hempnall, Saxlingham Nethergate and Long Stratton – which has become known as Norfolk’s Solar Valley due to the concentration of renewable energy projects.
The first hearing, which starts at 10am at Dunston Hall, Norwich, will set out the examination process.
On Tuesday afternoon, the first open hearing – where people registered to speak can make their representations – is due to take place.
The hearings are taking place at Dunston Hall, at the edge of Norwich (Image: Brittany Woodman)
Another open floor hearing will follow on Wednesday morning.
More than 60 people, including MPs and councillors, have already registered to speak.
Two issue-specific discussions are earmarked for Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning.
This week marks the first in a series of hearings for East Pye, which is considered nationally significant due to its size.
East Pye Solar Farm vox pop at Hempnall. The sign at David Tooms’ home. (Image: Denise Bradley)
Further dates are pencilled in for November and December.
The examination is expected to conclude in February next year.
Once the examination has concluded, the inspector has three months to submit a recommendation to the energy secretary, who then has a further three months to make a final decision.
Almost 2,000 people made representations as part of the consultation phase, with many of them vehemently opposed to the project.
East Pye is one of three nationally significant solar farms which are planned for Norfolk.
The hearings for The Droves solar farm near Swaffham are already underway, while the High Grove solar farm, near Dereham, is in the pre-application phase.
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