A MASSIVE “wall” of solar farms the size of 250 Wembley Stadiums are set to be built in a huge threat to the English countryside.
The plans would see 12,000 acres of solar panels with no checks from local decision-makers and critics warn it will ruin the countryside.
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Norfolk is facing a “wall” of panels across the A47 if plans for the new solar farms go ahead.
The area is set to cover seven and a half thousand acres in west Norfolk and around five thousand in south Norfolk.
But because the proposals are deemed Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects by the government, it’s not being considered by local decision-makers.
During a “Solar Sumit” meeting between local MPs and representatives, Mid Norfolk Conservative MP George Freeman said: “This is going to be a wall of solar infrastructure across the A47. This is big.”
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“It’s my concern that, at the moment, away from the villages who are dealing with it, people are not aware of what this will mean for the whole county.”
Photographs taken earlier this year show progress on a major 49.9MW solar farm being built at Bloy’s Grove, in Norfolk, by EDF Renewable.
The plans were approved in June 2022 by South Norfolk Council’s planning committee despite opposition.
Network Rail struck a deal with the operator for the electricity generated to power stations, offices and depots across the country.
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The developer, Island Green Power, claims the 2,800-acre Droves Solar Farm would generate enough electricity to power around 115,000 homes annually.
This is alongside another scheme called East Pye Solar which it says could power a similar number of homes.
South West Norfolk Labour MP Terry Jermy said: “I think the government needs to do far more to recognise the cumulative impact.
“One of the reasons we are seeing so many at the moment is that, at some point, the rules will change and there will be much stricter policies on developers in terms of community funds and transport.
“But, in that vacuum, communities are going to suffer.”