A proposal to build a 200-acre (approximately 80-hectare) solar farm near Reepham, Norfolk, is expected to receive approval, despite facing several objections.
The renewable energy company Albanwise Synergy plans to develop the Pettywell solar farm, which would produce enough electricity to power around 14,000 homes.
However, the scheme has drawn criticism from Reepham Town Council and local MP Jerome Mayhew, who have raised concerns over the loss of farmland and the visual and environmental impact of the project on the rural landscape.
Despite the opposition, a planning report has recommended Broadland District Council’s planning committee approve the application, stating it would offer a reliable source of clean and renewable energy.
Large-scale solar developments like this have become a contentious issue in Norfolk, where several major solar farms are proposed near towns such as Dereham, Long Stratton, and Diss. These larger projects fall under the category of “nationally significant infrastructure projects,” meaning they require final approval from government ministers.
In contrast, the Pettywell solar farm—while still covering the equivalent of more than 100 football pitches—falls under local jurisdiction, giving Broadland District Council the authority to make the final decision.
In addition to thousands of solar panels, the project would include a substation and a battery storage facility.
Around 80 public objections have been submitted, along with formal opposition from the town council and MP Mayhew, who described the project as an “overwhelming” industrial intrusion into a rural setting.
There are also concerns about cumulative impacts, as the area may also be affected by a planned 37-mile underground cable corridor connecting offshore wind farms.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously commented on the value of solar developments, saying they offer “cheaper energy for people across Norfolk.”
