Norfolk is facing a “wall” of solar farms on a scale equivalent to 250 Wembley stadiums, one of the county’s MPs told a “solar summit”.
George Freeman, Mid Norfolk MP, said he feared people were still not aware of just what an impact a string of applications for huge solar farms will have on Norfolk’s countryside and communities.
Campaigners, representatives from parish councils, along with other MPs, councillors and council officials attended the summit, convened by Mr Freeman in response to a spate of solar farm applications.
He said: “I was adding up the acreage and there’s about seven and a half thousand in west Norfolk and five or six thousand in south Norfolk, so that’s about 12,000 acres.
“That’s 250 Wembley stadiums and the size of the Norwich City Council area.
“This is going to be a wall of solar infrastructure across the A47. This is big.
“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.”
Planning inspectors have been considering proposals for the 2,800-acre the Droves Solar Farm between Castle Acre and Swaffham and are about to start scrutinising plans by the same developer - Island Green Power - for East Pye Solar Farm.
That £1bn project is proposed for land near Long Stratton and Hempnall in south Norfolk, while developer RWE is planning the High Grove Solar Farm on more than 4,000 acres between Dereham and Swaffham.
Because the proposals are deemed by the government to be Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, they are not being considered by local decision-makers.
Mr Freeman and South West Norfolk MP Terry Jermy said they feared the cumulative impact of so many solar farms was not being adequately considered.
Labour MP Mr Jermy said: “I think the government needs to do far more to recognise the cumulative impact.”
He said his government also needed to move quickly to improve planning policy over solar farms.
He said: “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.”
He also said his government needed to help make farming more profitable, so farmers were more likely to keep cultivating, rather than agreeing deals with developers to use agricultural land for solar farms.
Planning officials said they were making the case to government about the cumulative impact.
Broadland and Fakenham Conservative MP Jerome Mayhew also attended the meeting, held in South Green Park in Mattishall, while Waveney Valley Green MP, Adrian Ramsay, attended virtually.
Mr Freeman said it was crucial that Norfolk found a way to speak with one voice over the solar farm surge.
Tim Hubbard, from Castle Acre Parish Council, which is objecting to the Droves application, agreed greater countywide momentum was needed to win the “David and Goliath” battle.
He said he was not “anti solar” but said people in Norfolk should have far more say over what happens and where.
He also warned if schemes are approved, they are likely to face legal challenges.
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