A local MP is supporting residents’ objections to a solar farm near Castle Acre.
The MP for North West Norfolk James Wild has submitted a formal objection to Droves Solar Farm calling for planning inspectors to reject it.
He also met with Castle Acre Parish Council solar committee as an official consideration of the plans gets underway.
“It was valuable to meet with Castle Acre Parish Council to hear their concerns and I will continue to work closely with them to oppose the plans as the process moves forward,” he said.
“While renewable energy is important, projects of this scale must be properly scrutinised, especially when local people are being asked to bear such a significant cumulative impact.
“Like many others across the county, I have set out serious concerns about the effect this proposal could have, including on the landscape, productive farmland, the environment and local communities.
“The planning system must take full account of local circumstances, and communities hosting major infrastructure should see meaningful benefits.”
The Droves Solar Farm is officially classified as a “nationally significant infrastructure project” and will be examined by the Planning Inspectorate rather than the usual local planning process.
The website for the project drovessolarfarm.co.uk says the new solar farm is crucial for the environment and economy. “The move towards renewables and the transition away from fossil fuels is an environmental and economic necessity,” it says.
“We need to get large amounts of renewable energy in the system to generate clean, renewable energy that will contribute towards our energy security and combat climate change. This is why The Droves Solar Farm is so important.”
Mr Wild’s registration as an interested party gives him the right to participate formally in the examination, submit further evidence, and speak at hearings as the case progresses.
As the parish most directly affected by the Droves proposals, James also recently met Castle Acre Parish Council’s Solar Sub-Committee.
Councillors set out their concerns and discussed how local evidence can best inform the examination process, and James reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with them as the case develops.
The 500MW Droves Solar Farm, to be developed by Island Green Power, between Castle Acre and Swaffham.
Together with the neighbouring High Grove Solar Farm, the two projects would cover around 6,700 acres of Norfolk countryside.
Mr Wild argues that such a vast concentration of development demands much more rigorous scrutiny of the cumulative impact on North West Norfolk, particularly for the landscape, productive farmland, local roads, and the communities expected to host it.
He raised concerns about the visual effect of large-scale infrastructure, the loss of high-grade agricultural land, risks to the River Nar and local wildlife, and the strain construction traffic could place on already pressured rural roads. He also emphasised that host communities should receive meaningful and proportionate benefits.
While supporting renewable energy, Mr Wild said it must not come at the expense of food security, the countryside, or communities’ reasonable expectation of genuine local benefit.
Mr Wild MP added: “Norfolk’s beautiful countryside, farming heritage, and historic villages are what make this part of England worth protecting.
