Solar farm in Yelverton off the A146 to double in size
It will span a total of 70 acres
The spread of solar developments across south Norfolk has gathered pace amid plans to double in size an existing farm.
The proposals would result in the expansion of a solar farm off the A146 in Yelverton, near Poringland, to span a total of 70 acres.
South Norfolk has already been earmarked for several huge solar developments which are set to be built across thousands of acres of farmland in the district.
The projects are being strongly opposed in many villages with critics saying the land should remain in agricultural use.
The existing solar development in Yelverton is located at Avenue Farm in Back Road and is set to be more then doubled in size to stretch across two neighbouring fields.
Developers Sky UK and Gridsource are hosting community consultation events next month prior to the submission of a full planning application.
However, the project is set to move fast, with the application also scheduled for submission next month and a decision from South Norfolk Council expected by early autumn.
The larger solar projects in Norfolk will be determined by Ed Miliband, the secretary of state for energy and net zero, rather than local councils. This is due to their size.
Overall, Norfolk’s solar stock is set to increase by at least 17,000 acres in the coming years – equivalent to almost 10,000 football pitches.
Villages in south Norfolk have been favoured for these developments, with many located close to the proposed route of the Norwich to Tilbury pylon scheme. The scheme would carry power generated from windfarms off the Norfolk coast to elsewhere in the country.
The solar farm in Yelverton is located close to East Pye – a proposed development centred on Hempnall and encompassing 2,700 acres of fields in around half a dozen villages including Saxlingham, Shotesham, Brooke, Woodton, and Great Moulton.