Full Breakdown
Open-Floor Hearings Spotlight Future of Norfolk’s East Pye Solar Farm
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Public Hearings on a 2,700-acre Solar Proposal
Six months of open-floor hearings began on a Tuesday in Norwich, bringing together more than 60 local residents over two days at Dunston Hall. The sessions focus on the East Pye solar farm, a 2,700-acre (?1,000-hectare) development near Long Stratton that would generate enough electricity for 115,000 homes if approved.
Background & Context
Developer Island Green Power (IGP) frames the project as a key contribution to the United Kingdom’s net-zero carbon target, estimating a £1 billion construction cost that includes land acquisition, building, and installation. The farm is classified as nationally significant and is one of three large solar schemes planned for Norfolk. Opponents compare the scale to the controversial HS2 high-speed rail line, arguing that decisions are being imposed on rural communities without adequate local input.
Stakeholders
- Island Green Power (IGP) – Renewable-energy developer proposing the farm.
- Sandra Mullet – Resident of Great Moulton, voicing community grief and fear.
- Kathy Thompson – Great Moulton resident who told the Planning Inspectorate the project “threatens everyone in Norfolk.”
- Daniel Elmer – Conservative leader of South Norfolk Council, noting the district’s history of accommodating major infrastructure while questioning this scheme’s suitability.
- Karl Catchpole – Reform UK councillor for Long Stratton, warning against a “region’s HS2.”
Official Statements & Responses
IGP asserts the solar farm will help the UK cut carbon emissions and meet net-zero goals. The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) recorded that over 60 people spoke during the hearings, reflecting widespread local concern. South Norfolk Council’s Daniel Elmer emphasized that the debate is not about the necessity of renewable energy but about the specific suitability of this project for the area, citing previous large-scale infrastructure transformations.
Verbatim Quotes
“Karl Catchpole, Reform UK councillor for Long Stratton, said: "We can't let East Pye solar become this region's HS2: a decision made far away, imposed on a community that is never totally listened to.” — Birmingham. Karl Catchpole, Reform UK councillor for Long Stratton