Details have emerged of another huge solar farm project in Norfolk around the villages of Ashwellthorpe, Hapton, Tharston, Forncett St Mary, Forncett St Peter and Tacolneston
Details have emerged of yet another huge solar farm project in Norfolk which could result in almost 25,000 acres of the county’s fields being covered in thousands of panels.
Aukera, a firm specialising in renewable energy, wants to build a 3,600-acre plant on agricultural land near Long Stratton which would power about 200,000 homes.
The proposed Tasway Energy Park would cover an area equivalent to about 1,800 football pitches around the villages of Ashwellthorpe, Hapton, Tharston, Forncett St Mary, Forncett St Peter and Tacolneston.
It would be built close to another two massive solar schemes, the 2,700-acre East Pye and another, as-yet-unnamed one estimated to cover 2,500 and also near Long Stratton.
Locals fear it would leave the town effectively surrounded by panels, with little open countryside in the area.
Tasway is one of several solar projects planned for the county, as part of the Labour government’s hugely ambitious net zero targets.
Before last year’s general election, there were just 2,200 acres of solar farms in the county, but this will soar by more than 850pc to nearly 25,000 acres if all the current proposals go ahead.
The plans have been met with growing resistance in many Norfolk communities, with critics raising concerns about the loss of farmland as well as the cumulative impact on the landscape.
Frustration has been particularly acute because the ultimate decision on many of the projects will be taken by Ed Miliband, secretary of state for energy and net zero, rather than local councils.
In some areas, villagers have even been told they may be forced to sell their homes to make way for the panels.
SOLAR SIEGE
Few details are available currently about Tasway but Aukera has published a map of the farmland that could be turned into the massive renewable energy project.
The company, backed by investors Atlas Invest, says it would be a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) – meaning Mr Miliband will decide its fate – capable of generating 700 megawatts.
If approved, it would be one of the biggest solar farms in Norfolk, second only to an estimated 5,000-acre scheme near Gissing.
A timeline for the scheme suggests it could be in operation by 2030.
An AI bot named Ray is available on its website, which is capable of answering limited questions about the project.
In a statement on its website, a spokesman said: “The proposals are at an early stage, with many details, including cabling routes, substation locations and other key components, such as biodiversity and design considerations, still to be determined.
“Aukera wishes to engage with the community and residents early to begin to enhance the opportunities the project could bring.”
BACKLASH BEGINS
The project has already stirred a backlash, with South Norfolk Labour MP Ben Goldsborough publicly stating he intends to oppose the project.
This is a departure from his opinion on the East Pye project, mostly on the other side of the A140, to the east and south of Long Stratton, which he has not decided to campaign against, despite a huge swell of opposition from villagers.
A map of where the East Pye solar farm could be built, to the east of Long Stratton (Image: East Pye Solar Farm)
In a statement released on YouTube, Mr Goldsborough said: “I took a position of mitigation not cancellation towards the East Pye project.
“I believe every part of this country needs to play its role so tyrants like Putin can not dictate what happens in our country when they want to warmonger around the world.
“But when we keep getting as many applications go in as this, we have to say, enough is enough.”
He has called on people living in south Norfolk to “work together with a unified voice to show that we do not believe it is fair to keep imposing all this energy infrastructure on our small Norfolk community”.
Georgina Race, a Labour councillor for Long Stratton, added: “We already have lots of housing and growth in the town. This, combined with the solar farms will mean we will be left without any countryside at all, which would be a real shame.
“People move here because of good links with Norwich and Diss while also being quite rural. If this all the land becomes solar farms and houses, it will not be as an attractive place to live.
“I understand we need to produce clean energy. But it is like they are trying to turn south Norfolk into the nation’s engine.
“We should be looking at putting solar panels on all new houses, on car parks or buildings like supermarkets instead.”
The other possible Long Stratton scheme, covering an estimated 2,500 acres and being proposed by a company called Noventum, is further behind in the pipeline, with no precise locations yet given.
SOLAR TENSIONS
Tensions have been rising in the villages in his constituency due to the growing number of solar farm projects.
Concerns have been heightened this month after dozens of residents received letters in Hempnall, Saxlingham and Tasburgh telling them their “homes may be required” by developers for the East Pye solar farm.
Residents say they have been hounded by the company behind the scheme through repeatedly receiving letters and phone calls asking for intimate personal details about their finances and mortgage status.
Critics worry Britain’s food security could be affected due to the huge amount of agricultural land being converted into solar farms.
Others worry it will harm the character of Norfolk’s countryside.
But supporters of the push for solar believe it will help end the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels and can also provide another revenue stream for farmers.
Labour has said it wants to triple solar energy, double onshore wind and quadruple offshore wind by 2030 in a bid to meet its net zero target.
Norfolk could become the biggest solar energy producer in the country if the numerous schemes go ahead.
The biggest of the farms would be in Gissing, where a site estimated at 5,000 acres is proposed. There are also plans for the Droves, spanning 2,800 acres near Swaffham.
